Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
CODE TALKERS HONORED, WARREN MOCKED Week 41 (Oct. 29-Nov. 4)
••• The second government shutdown of 2018 occurs, once again due to partisan gridlock over DACA and border issues.
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Yeah, but can he sing?: Trump tweets birthday wishes to the wrong Lee Greenwood.
A major development in the Russia investigation occurs when Manafort and an associate, Rick Gates, are charged in a 12-count indictment that includes allegations of money laundering and acting as unregistered agents of Ukraine’s former pro-Russian government.
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Newly released court documents also show that during a closed hearing earlier in the month, Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian officials.
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A man who will later tell investigators he was inspired by Islamic State recruiting videos steers a rented truck down a bicycle/pedestrian pathway in New York City, killing eight and wounding 11. Trump immediately calls for Homeland Security to step up its vetting program, and later calls for the suspect to be executed. His reaction stands in contrast to his response to the Oct. 1 shooting in Las Vegas, where he declined to discuss gun violence.
Week 42 (Nov. 5-11)
After Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore is accused of sexually harassing women and girls as young as 14, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders says Trump would want Moore, a Republican, to step aside if the accusations are true.
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The Trump administration announces it is ending Temporary Protected Status for about 2,000 Nicaraguans who have been living legally in the U.S. for many years under a provision effective January 2019.
Week 43 (Nov. 12-18)
When Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., is accused of sexually harassing a radio news anchor in 2006, Trump reacts quickly on Twitter, calling a photo of the incident “really bad” and referring to Franken as Al Frankenstein. Critics note that Trump has not commented directly on the accusations against Moore nor about the 19 women who accuse Trump of molesting them. Speaking to reporters later in the week, Trump defends Moore.
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After the father of UCLA basketball star LiAngelo Ball downplays Trump’s role in arranging for the release of Ball and two teammates from China, where they were accused of shoplifting during a team trip there, Trump lashes out at him on Twitter: “Now that the three basketball players are out of China and saved from years in jail, LaVar Ball, the father of LiAngelo, is unaccepting of what I did for his son and that shoplifting is no big deal. I should have left them in jail!”
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Trump comes away from his meeting with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte saying the two have a “great relationship” and Duterte is doing an “unbelievable job.” Trump doesn’t respond to questions about whether he pressed Duterte on human rights in connection to the thousands of extrajudicial killings that have been committed by government operatives in Duterte’s crackdown on drugs.
Week 44 (Nov. 19-25)
Amid calls by several leading Republicans for Moore to step aside as the child molestation accounts get louder, Trump defends the candidate and says he may campaign for him.
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The administration announces it will end Temporary Protected Status for Haitians effective in July 2019. The change would affect about 60,000 Haitian immigrants — many of whom have been living legally in the U.S. for a number of years.
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The national unemployment rate falls to 3.7 percent, a nearly 50-year low.
Week 45 (Nov. 26-Dec. 2)
During an event to honor the World War II Navajo code talkers, Trump uses the opportunity to mock Sen. Elizabeth Warren with his often-used “Pocahontas” insult. Trump is criticized for being racially insensitive to Native Americans and disrespecting veterans.
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Trump tweets three misleading anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant videos originally posted by Britain First, a nationalist group in the U.K. that routinely posts fake videos. British Prime Minister Theresa May and many others rebuke him.
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Amid the furor, Trump claims he knew nothing about Britain First before posting the videos. “If you’re telling me these are horrible people, horrible racist people, I would certainly apologize if you’d like me to do that,” Trump tells Piers Morgan in a televised interview.
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Flynn pleads guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with the Russian abassador Kislyak, and says he is cooperating in the Russia investigation. Court records indicate that in his dealings with the diplomat, Flynn was acting in consultation with Kushner and at least one other senior Trump transition official, reportedly KT McFarland.
••• Trump takes to Twitter to defend Flynn and accuse the Justice Department of unfairness in prosecuting Flynn but not Hillary Clinton. In doing so, however, Trump says for the first time that he had to fire Flynn “because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI.” This prompts legal experts to say Trump has inadvertently provided evidence of obstruction of justice by indicating he knew Flynn had lied to the FBI when he asked Comey to drop his investigation of him.
••• Defending his proposed tax plan from criticism that it will disproportionately benefit the wealthiest Americans, Trump falsely claims the proposal will “cost me a fortune.” An NBC News analysis of the plan finds it will save Trump $20 million.
Week 46 (Dec. 3-9)
Trump formally endorses Moore in Alabama’s Dec. 12 specialelection.
••• Trump’s personal lawyer, John Dowd, says a sitting president cannot be found guilty of obstructing justice because “he is the chief law enforcement officer under [the Constitution’s Article II] and has every right to express his view of any case.”
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In announcing that the U.S. will recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Trump noticeably slurs his speech. Trump’s doctors will later tell reporters that cold medication was to blame.
••• Trump signs a short-term spending bill to keep the government running, but calls for Congress to provide $5 billion in the next bill for a border wall.
Week 47 (Dec. 10-16)
Trump suffers a political blow when Moore loses. Trump immediately distances himself from Moore.
“The reason I originally endorsed Luther Strange (and his numbers went up mightily), is that I said Roy Moore will not be able to win the General Election,” Trump tweets. “I was right!”
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Asked whether he would pardon Flynn, Trump leaves the possibility open. Critics complain that dangling a pardon possibility is potentially obstruction of justice and witness tampering.
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Juris ignorance: Matthew Petersen, a Trump nominee for a lifetime federal judge position, withdraws after a confirmation hearing in which he fails to answer several basic questions about the law, admits he has never handled a trial at any level and has taken fewer than five depositions.
Week 48 (Dec. 17-23)
Congress gives final approval to the Trump/GOP tax plan, and Trump signs it. The Joint Committee on Taxation reports that the plan will initially result in a reduction for all taxpayers, but the lion’s share of the benefit goes to the wealthiest Americans and there will be an increase for taxpayers earning up to $75,000 by 2027. Meanwhile, it will add an estimated $1.46 billion to the federal deficit over a decade.
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O, glorious leader: At a White House gathering to celebrate the tax plan, Republicans seem to compete to see who can offer the most lavish praise of Trump. The unofficial winner is Tennessee Rep. Diane Black. “Thank you, President Trump, for allowing us to have you as our president and to make America great again,” she says.
••• Trump announces that the U.S. will no longer consider climate change as a national security threat. This is despite federal agencies still reporting that climate change will devastate global economies and security.
Week 49 (Dec. 24-30)
Trump brags that his administration has signed more legislation than any other, a blatantly false claim. Days earlier, govtrack.us reported: “Trump has sunk to last place with 94 bills signed into law by his 336th day in office. That’s eight fewer than President George W. Bush and not even half as many as presidents Bill Clinton (209) and George H.W. Bush (242).”
Responding to a New Year’s Day speech by Kim, a size-anxious Trump tweets that he has a “much bigger & more powerful” nuclear button than the North Korean leader.
••• Reacting to the publication of “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House,” which portrays Trump as unhinged and unfit to serve as president, Trump tweets that he would “qualify as not smart, but genius .... and a very stable genius at that!”
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In the book, Bannon says the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting was “treasonous” and “unpatriotic,” and that “the chance that Don Jr. did not walk these jumos up to his father’s office on the 26th floor is zero.” Trump lashes out, saying Bannon “not only lost his job, he lost his mind.”
••• Trump disbands the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity after it finds no evidence of widespread voter fraud. •••
The fourth quarter of 2017 closes with GDP growth of 2.3 percent. Year-over-year, the GDP also increased 2.3 percent from 2016. •••
The stock market closes Jan. 4 with the Dow Jones industrial average over 25,000 for the first time.
Week 51 (Jan. 7-13)
Axios reports that Trump has begun starting his official day at 11 a.m. and cutting down on meetings so that he can take three hours of “executive time” in the morning. The report says Trump spends most of that time in his private residence watching TV and using Twitter.
••• Trump cancels Temporary Protected Status for El Salvadorans, leaving about 200,000 immigrants from that country facing uncertainty.
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The Washington Post breaks the news that during a White House meeting on immigration, Trump refers to El Salvador, Haiti and African nations as “s**thole countries” and asks why the U.S. should continue accepting residents from those countries. Further, he suggests the U.S. should instead allow entry by immigrants from nations like Norway, which is predominantly white, reinvigorating criticism that Trump is racist.
••• Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin confirms that Trump made the comment, and the White House doesn’t deny it. Trump, however, seems to deny it, tweeting that there was “tough” language during the meeting but that the comment “was not the language used.”
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The Wall Street Journal breaks the Stormy Daniels story, reporting that Cohen paid the adult film actress $130,000 to keep her from revealing that she and the president had sex in 2006 not long after Trump married Melania. Cohen denies it.
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The nonprofit Environmental Data & Governance Initiative reports that the EPA and several government agencies have removed or reduced their web content about climate change.
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In an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper regarding “Fire and Fury,” Trump senior adviser Stephen Miller displays the zeal of a true believer in calling the president a “political genius” and “a self-made billionaire who revolutionized reality TV and changed the course of our politics.” After 12 minutes of hyperbolic praise and combative CNN trashing by Miller, Tapper cuts the interview short. Miller refuses to leave, and security is called to escort him out.
Week 52 (Jan. 14-20)
Amid the furor over his “s**thole countries” remark, Trump tells a reporter that he is “the least racist person you will ever interview.”
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What goes around …: A company that tracks the spread of misinformation online says Trump hotels have been deluged with fake reviews calling the properties “s**tholes.”
••• Stormy speaks: In an interview with the entertainment publication In Touch, Daniels describes unimpressive sex with Trump months after Melania gave birth to Barron Trump. The encounter occurred at a Lake Tahoe hotel suite during a celebrity golf tournament, she says. Trump called her repeatedly afterward, she says.
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The government partially shuts down after the Senate fails to pass a funding bill, gridlocked over demands by Senate Democrats to include a DACA resolution in the measure. Three days later, the Senate reaches a stopgap deal after Democrats say Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has assured them he will allow debate on DACA.
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In a bizarre news conference to announce the results of a physical and cognitive examination of Trump, White House physician Ronny Jackson gives an overthe-top assessment of the president’s health. He says Trump “might live to be 200 years old” if he’d have had a better diet, and describes the president as being in excellent health — even though Trump is visibly overweight, sleeps four to five hours a night and eats a diet heavy in fast food and sugar.
Week 53 (Jan. 21-27)
The Justice Department reveals that Sessions has been questioned as part of the Mueller investigation. Sessions becomes the first known Cabinet member to be interviewed.
••• Trump gives his State of the Union address, in which he urges bipartisan support on such issues as infrastructure and immigration. Democrats do a collective eye-roll, expressing extreme doubt that Trump is sincere about working with them. Despite multiple “infrastructure weeks,” Trump never moves forward with a plan.
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The administration loosens a Clinton-era policy aimed at reducing toxic air pollution from industrial sources.
Week 54 (Jan. 28-Feb. 3)
Damn those Dems: In a speech in Cincinnati, Trump says it was “un-American” and perhaps even treasonous that Democrats didn’t stand and cheer for his State of the Union speech.
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Trump becomes the first president not to be interviewed on Super Bowl Sunday since George W. Bush started doing it in 2004. Trump instead issues a statement in which he supports standing for the national anthem.
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Over the objections of the FBI and Department of Justice, Trump orders the release of a previously classified memo on the Russia investigation from House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif. Trump and top Republicans say it vindicates the president by proving political bias on the part of investigators. Democrats say it’s a mischaracterization of the facts and leaves out critical context.
Week 55 (Feb. 4-10)
White House staff secretary Rob Porter resigns amid reports that he physically abused his two ex-wives. The situation will become crippling for Kelly, who is accused of knowing about the allegations for months before they became public, and covering themup.
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An Indiana prosecutor criticizes Trump for politicizing the case of an undocumented immigrant accused of killing Indianapolis Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson and another man. The prosecutor calls Trump’s comments on the matter “ghoulish and inappropriate.”
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A year after the administration pledged to replace the White House Spanish language website it removed immediately after Trump took office, there’s still no new site.
••• Nevadans go on high alert after Time magazine publishes a cover story saying the White House has considered conducting a nuclear test at the Nevada National Security Site as a show of force. Gov. Brian Sandoval immediately calls the White House and soon reports that he has “100 percent confirmation” that the test won’t happen.
A gunman opens fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., killing 17 students and faculty members, and injuring 17 others. Trump offers prayers and condolences, but focuses on mental health issues as opposed to gun safety. Outraged student survivors respond by launching a nationwide movement for sensible gun legislation.
••• Stoneman Douglas sophomore Sarah Chadwick responds: “I don’t want your condolences you (expletive) piece of (expletive), my friends and teachers wereshot.”
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The Stormy story changes, part I: After The New York Times publishes a story saying Daniels was in fact paid hush money, Cohen acknowledges it but says he paid her out of his own pocket.
••• Former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal claims she had a nine-month affair with Trump two years into his marriage with Melania. It will be revealed that McDougal was paid for her story and her silence by Trump allies at the National Enquirer, who promptly killed it.
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The administration proposes massive cutbacks in research on renewable energy and programs designed to study and mitigate the effects of climate change.
••• McMaster says there is “incontrovertible” evidence that Russia meddled in the election. Trump continues to take Putin’s word over the word of the U.S. intelligence community.
••• Mueller unveils indictments against 13 Russian nationals on charges of interfering with the election, including supporting Trump’s campaign and opposing Hillary Clinton. The indictments are the first tied directly to Russian meddling in the election.
Week 57 (Feb. 18-24)
At a “listening session” in the aftermath of the Parkland shooting, Trump expresses support for arming teachers. He’s also called for a ban on bump stocks and expressed support for raising the legal age to 21 to purchase some types of weapons. But he’ll quickly reverse these positions, claiming there was “not much political support” for the measures.
••• Trump enters the meeting holding a card containing five handwritten notes, including “I hear you” and “What can we do to help you feel safe?” Critics are mystified: Why he would need the prompts to show sympathy for grieving students and families? •••
A memo from McMaster confirms that Trump has asked for a Red Square-type military parade for the U.S. in Washington.
Week 58 (Feb. 25-March 3)
No more Hope: After defending Porter, whom she’d been dating, White House communications director Hope Hicks resigns.
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In a private speech to Republican donors at Mar-a-Lago, Trump says “it’s great” that Xi Jinping became the Chinese “president for life,” and that “maybe we’ll have to give that a shot some day.”
Week 59 (March 4-10)
A proposal to name a Utah highway after Trump draws opposition, including from a lawmaker who suggests adding a Stormy Daniels exit to the road.
••• Reports emerge that Trump will meet with Kim.
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A federal oversight office says Conway violated the Hatch Act by speaking in support of Moore. The law prohibits government officials from using their positions to influence political campaigns. No action, punishment or apology comes from the White House. Instead, the White House denies she committed the violation.
Week 60 (March 11-17)
Rex becomes an ex: Trump ousts Tillerson, with whom he’d clashed on Korea, Russia and Iran. He replaces Tillerson with CIA Director Mike Pompeo. Trump’s IQ challenge with Tillerson never happens.
••• Mueller subpoenas the Trump Organization, the first time the special prosecutor is known to demand materials directly related to Trump’s businesses.
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John McEntee, Trump’s longtime personal aide, is fired after becoming the target of an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security for financial crimes.
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The Federal Emergency Management Agency drops the words “climate change” and associated terms from its strategic plan. FEMA’s stance doesn’t affect the climate, which continues to wreakhavoc.
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Trump replaces top economic adviser Gary Cohn with television pundit Larry Kudlow.
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Newly disclosed documents show that Trump Organization lawyer Jill Martin was involved in legal efforts to keep Daniels from revealing her story, belying Cohen’s claim that the Trump Organization wasn’t involved.
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Lying to allies is a good thing? Trump brags in a fundraising speech that he made up information during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by saying the U.S. was running a trade deficit with Canada. The claim was false.
••• Absentee critic: During an interview on “60 Minutes,” DeVos laments the state of public schools while espousing school choice. Interviewer Lesley Stahl asks if DeVos has visited any underperforming public schools. DeVos admits she has not.
••• Trump proposes the establishment of a Space Force as a separate branch of the U.S. military. He’s mocked by late-night comics and internet commenters. A number of military experts say space operations could stay within the Air Force, and that creating a separate force would generate needless bureaucracy.
Week 61 (March 18-24)
Trump ousts McMaster. The two had clashed on numerous issues, including McMaster’s support for escalating the war in Afghanistan and his public statement that there was “incontrovertible” evidence of Russian meddling. Trump names far right wing darling and Fox News commentator John Bolton as his third national security adviser in a little more than a year. Trump does so despite reportedly expressing doubts about Bolton’s mustache — an unusual concern for a national security adviser.
••• Trump signs a $1.3 trillion omnibus bill that circumvents another government shutdown but is upset that it doesn’t include the $25 billion he’d sought for the border wall. “I will never sign another bill like this again,” he says. Illegal border crossings remain at close to decades-long lows.
••• Member of the jet set: Politico reports that Pruitt has spent more than $105,000 on firstclass flights during his first year as EPA director.
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The U.S. imposes tariffs of 25 percent and 10 percent on imports of steel and aluminum, respectively, from China. Trump insists trade wars are easy to win but appears confused on who actually ends up paying for them.
••• Trump calls Putin to congratulate him on his re-election, drawing outcry from Republicans and Democrats alike. Later, a leaked copy of Trump’s briefing materials shows that aides warned him “DO NOT CONGRATULATE.”
Week 62 (March 25-31)
Trump ousts Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin and nominates presidential physician Jackson to replace him. Trump reportedly liked Jackson’s performance during the doctor’s over-the-top report on the president’s physical examination. However ...
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… The nomination is a disaster. Not only does Jackson have limited management experience, but he soon faces a rash of accusations of creating a hostile work environment, drinking on the job and improperly dispensing medication. He withdraws from consideration in April.
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The stench around Pruitt gets stronger. ABC News reports that for much of Pruitt’s first year in office, he has rented a condo co-owned by the wife of a prominent energy lobbyist. Bloomberg will later report that Pruitt paid $50 per night, far below market value. •••
The first quarter of 2018 closes with GDP growth of 2.2 percent.
Week 63 (April 1-7)
The administration takes another step toward a crisis of its own making when Sessions announces a zero tolerance policy on border crossings, directing federal officials to prosecute all adult migrants entering the U.S. illegally. Because federal law bars children from being held in detention facilities with their parents, the policy leads to separation of hundreds and then thousands of families at the border. •••
Trump begins tweeting about caravans of immigrants moving toward the U.S. from Central America. •••
China imposes 15 to 25 percent tariffs on a range of U.S. products.
••• Trump calls for 2,000 to 4,000 National Guard troops to be sent to the border. Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval says he won’t deploy state troops.
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It’s revealed that Trump invited Putin to the White House during a March 20 phone call. The news comes as a shock to European allies and Trump aides, but the meeting never materializes.
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Trump makes his first comment about the payment to Daniels, saying he has no knowledge of it. “You’ll have to ask Michael Cohen. Michael Cohen is my attorney,” Trump says.
Week 64 (April 8-14)
Mueller’s team steps it up another notch with a raid on Cohen’s office. Furious, Trump calls the investigation “an attack on our country.”
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In interviews preceding the release of his book “A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership,” Comey calls Trump “untethered to truth” and compares him to a mafia don. Trump responds by calling Comey an “untruthful slimeball.”
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Bolton pushes out homeland security adviser Tom Bossert, a close ally of McMaster.
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In testimony before a House committee, Nielson clouds the family separation issue by claiming there is no policy calling for separations as a deterrent.
Week 65 (April 15-21)
As public awareness of child separations grows, so does outcry. Congressional Democrats prompt an investigation by the Homeland Security inspector general into whether the agency is improperly separating families.
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The crisis comes into clearer focus: The New York Times publishes the first report examining the scale of family separations. It says more than 700 children have been taken from their parents since October, including 100 under the age of 4.
••• During a court hearing, Cohen is forced to admit that his clients include Fox News host Sean Hannity. Hannity is criticized for not revealing his connection to Cohen in commenting about Trump.
Week 66 (April 22-28)
Backlash to child separations explodes, as the separations draw condemnation from Democratic and Republican leaders, former first ladies, child welfare experts, religious organizations, business leaders and others.
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A federal judge rules against Trump in a lawsuit challenging his September decision to phase out DACA.
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The Stormy story changes, part II: After initially denying he knew anything about Cohen’s payments to Daniels, Trump tells Fox News that Cohen “represented me with this crazy Stormy Daniels deal.” “There was no campaign funds going into this, which would have been a problem,” he says.
Week 67 (April 29-May 5)
After newly released documents show that Trump disclosed making payments to Cohen, Trump acknowledges publicly that he repaid Cohen for the hush money given to Daniels. He claims the money had nothing to do with the campaign.
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Rudy’s rough start: Rudy Giuliani, who has been added to Trump’s legal team, stuns the White House by suggesting on Fox News that the payment to Daniels was made because Trump was in the stretch run of his campaign. Trump says Giuliani needs to “get his facts straight.” • • •
Wait, wasn’t Obama the one who was supposed to be taking the guns away?: It’s reported that attendees at the NRA’s national convention will be allowed to carry their guns, but not during a forum in which Trump and Pence will speak.
Week 68 (May 6-12)
Sessions doubles down on the zero-tolerance policy at the border, acknowledging that it will require children to be separated from their parents and suggesting that the purpose is to deter immigration. •••
Kelly shifts on separations again, saying they can be “a tough deterrent.”
Week 69 (May 13-19)
Nielsen directly contradicts Kelly, denying to a Senate committee that Trump ordered separations as a deterrent even though Kelly spoke about using it as a deterrent early in the Trump administration.
••• During a meeting with California officials upset about sanctuary laws, Trump refers to immigrant gang members as “animals.” His dehumanizing comment adds to the furor over family separations.
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Senate Intelligence Committee leaders issue a statement saying they agree with U.S. intelligence officials that Russia interfered in the election. Trump reacts with a tweet saying “The only Collusion was that done by Democrats who were unable to win an Election despite the spending of far more money!”
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A shooting at a high school near Houston leaves 10 dead and more than a dozen wounded. Trump: “Early reports not looking good. God bless all!”
••• Trump meets with parents of the shooting victims. Rhonda Hart, whose 14-year-old daughter, Kimberly Vaughan, was killed in the shooting, says Trump repeatedly used the word “wacky” to describe the shooter and seems obsessed with arming teachers as a solution to school security. “It was like talking to a toddler,” she says.
Week 70 (May 20-26)
Trump asks the Justice Department to investigate whether his campaign was infiltrated or surveilled by its agents or the FBI during the Obama administration.
••• Trump announces he will pardon conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza, who pleaded guilty to federal campaign finance law violations.
Trump contradicts himself again on his reason for firing Comey: “Not that it matters but I never fired James Comey because of Russia!”
Week 72 (June 3-9)
Giuliani says in a televised interview that it’s an “open question” as to whether Trump can pardon himself. Trump sends a tweet on the matter: “As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong?’’ Most legal scholars challenge this idea.
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The U.S. imposes tariffs on steel and aluminum products from all countries except Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Japan and South Korea. Mexico retaliates by imposing tariffs on U.S. products worth $3.6 billion. Apparently the “easily winnable” trade war is not won yet.
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After several members of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles say they’ll decline to visit the White House, Trump rescinds the team’s invitation. Yet ...
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… He announces he’s considering a pardon for the late boxer and social activist Muhammad Ali, who also protested against racial discrimination. But …
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Ali’s family notifies Trump that no pardon is needed, as Ali’s conviction for failing to report for induction into the service was overturned by the Supreme Court in 1971.
Week 73 (June 10-16)
Trump upends the G7 summit and insults Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. During a news conference announcing the signing of a communique by all seven nations, Trudeau mentions that Canada “will not be pushed around” by the U.S. with its tariffs. Once safely aboard Air Force One and flying away, Trump reacts by saying the U.S. will not endorse the communique and calling Trudeau “very dishonest & weak.”
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After his historic summit with Kim, Trump heaps praise on the North Korean dictator, calling him “a very worthy, smart negotiator” and saying, “I do trust him, yeah.” Critics point to the comments as another instance of Trump attacking allies and praising foes.
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Trump tweets after the summit that “there is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea.” Less than two weeks later, newly released satellite images will indicate that North Korea is upgrading a major nuclear research facility, belying Trump’s claim that it has vowed todisarm.
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In a Fox News interview, Trump compliments Kim’s authoritarian rule. “He speaks and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same,” he says. Trump later claims he was being sarcastic.
••• Sessions makes a speech in which he uses a biblical passage to defend the zero-tolerance policy and family separations.
“I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained them for the purpose of order,” he says. “Orderly and lawful processes are good in themselves and protect the weak and lawful.”
Critics point out that Sessions fails to mention that such biblical characters as Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus were refugees as well.
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Trump announces $50 billion in trade tariffs against China.
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Trump lies and blames Democrats for family separations and says the matter can only be resolved by Congress. Meanwhile, Homeland Security reveals for the first time how many children have been separated since the zero-tolerance policy went into effect — 2,000, and some are younger than ayearold.
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The New York attorney general’s office files a civil suit against the Trump Foundation, Trump and his three eldest children, alleging they violated federal and state charities law with a “persistent” pattern of conduct that included unlawful coordination with the 2016 Trump presidential campaign.
Week 74 (June 17-23)
Nielsen says the administration will not apologize over family separations. “This administration has a simple message — If you cross the border illegally, we will prosecute you,” she says.
••• ProPublica releases recordings from inside a detention center where children who’ve been separated from their families are being housed. Cries of “Mama” and “Papi” can be heard over and over, and some children wail inconsolably. Also on the recording is the voice of an adult supervisor. “Well, we have an orchestra here,” he jokes. “What’s missing is a conductor.”
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The recordings and other revelations from the border — including the existence of a no-hugging policy in which children are prohibited from being touched by their siblings or staff — causes outcry to boil over. An aggregate of four polls shows that two-thirds of Americans oppose the policy.
••• Melania Trump boards a plane to visit the border wearing an Army green jacket with the words “I really don’t care. Do U?” printed in white on the back. A spokeswoman says the garment is just a jacket and has no message. The first lady later completely changes that story, saying the message was a swipe at the mainstream media.
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Trump is forced to blink: Belying his earlier claim that family separations were being caused by an inflexible law and not by a policy he could reverse, Trump signs an executive order aimed at keeping families together.
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The European Union imposes tariffs on U.S. products worth $3.2 billion. The “easy to win” trade war continues.
••• Hundreds of people turn out in triple-digit heat to protest Trump when he appears at the Suncoast resort in Las Vegas to campaign for Republican candidates.
Week 75 (June 24-30)
Five journalists die after a gunman enters a newspaper office in Annapolis, Md., prompting fresh concerns over the ramifications of Trump’s antimedia rhetoric. After the mayor of Annapolis says the administration has denied his request to lower flags, Trump gives the order.
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The Supreme Court upholds Trump’s travel ban on a 5-4 vote.
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A federal judge in California orders immigration authorities to reunite separated children within 30 days — 14 days for children younger than 5.
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As federal officials begin to comply with the court order, attorneys reveal that immigrant children as young as 3 are being ordered into court unaccompanied by adults. This isn’t a new practice, but attorneys say more children are being sent to court alone.
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Trump threatens to tax Harley-Davidson “like never before” after the manufacturer announces that Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs have forced it to move some production overseas.
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The second quarter of 2018 closes with GDP growth of 4.2 percent.
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After Rep. Maxine Waters calls for public harassment of Trump administration officials, Trump attacks her in a provocative tweet: “Congresswoman Maxine Waters, an extraordinarily low IQ person, has become, together with Nancy Pelosi, the Face of the Democrat Party. She has just called for harm to supporters, of which there are many, of the Make America Great Again movement. Be careful what you wish for Max!”
Week 76 (July 1-7)
Pruitt leaves in disgrace. The EPA director resigns amid his many ethics scandals, which by now include allegations that he ordered an aide to help him with a number of personal tasks like buying a mattress from the Trump hotel in Washington, and that he retaliated against EPA staffers who had questioned his management and spending decisions.
••• Trump mocks the #MeToo movement in a campaign rally in Montana, saying it has made it improper to use the phrase “the woman who got away.”
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The U.S. imposes a 25 percent tariff on Chinese goods worth $34 billion. China immediately retaliates with an equal tariff. The trade war is affecting U.S. consumers and businesses with higher prices, despite being “easy to win.”
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At a rally less than a week after the Annapolis shooting, Trump refers to journalists as “bad people” and says “75 percent of those people are downright dishonest.”
Week 77 (July 8-14)
Trump nominates Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court to succeed retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy.
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As he prepares for a trip to Europe that includes a NATO summit in Brussels and a meeting with Putin in Helsinki, Trump says he’s most looking forward to the Putin meeting.
“I have NATO, I have the UK, which is in somewhat turmoil, and I have Putin. Frankly, Putin may be the easiest of them all. Who would think?” he says.
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At the NATO summit, Trump shocks U.S. allies by attacking the member nations, particularly Germany, whose leader, Angela Merkel is often regarded as a thoughtful, dignified contrast to Trump. He accuses that nation of being “totally controlled by” and “a captive of Russia,” and says other allies are “delinquent” in their defense spending. Alarmed critics point out that weakening NATO has long been one of Putin’s central global policy goals and Trump appears to be accomplishingthat.
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Hours before Trump arrives in England to meet British Prime Minister Theresa May, the English tabloid The Sun publishes a story in which Trump criticizes the politically vulnerable May’s handling of Brexit and says former British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson would make a great prime minister.
••• Mattis, who originally supported Trump’s Space Force proposal, breaks with the president and sends a letter to Congress urging lawmakers not to make it a separate branch of the military.
••• Mueller obtains a new indictment charging 12 Russian intelligence officers with stealing information of about 500,000 American voters via a hack of the Democratic Party.
Week 78 (July 15-21)
Trump’s plan to have a private meeting with Putin — only a U.S. translator is in attendance, no other staff — shocks observers. No president has ever sought to prevent senior staff from observing a conversation between the U.S. and Russia. Later it is learned that Trump demanded the translator’s notes from the meeting and destroyed them so no known record of the conversations exists.
In a CBS interview before his meeting with Putin, Trump lists the European Union — which consists entirely of U.S. economic and military allies — as one of America’s biggest foes and says that while Russia and China also are foes, “that doesn’t mean they arebad.”
••• Another furor erupts over Trump’s performance during a news conference with Putin in Helsinki, Finland, where Trump takes Putin’s word over that of U.S. intelligence officials on whether Russia meddled in the election. He also says he holds both nations responsible for Russia’s interference. Critics call out his visible deference to Putin.
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“My people came to me, Dan Coats came to me, some others, they said they think it’s Russia,” Trump says referring to the director of national intelligence. “I have President Putin. He just said it’s not Russia. I will say this, I don’t see any reason why it would be.”
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A torrent of criticism erupts, including from U.S. allies and leading Republicans. McCain calls it “one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory.”
“The damage inflicted by President Trump’s naiveté, egotism, false equivalence, and sympathy for autocrats is difficult to calculate,” McCain says.
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“So many people at the higher ends of intelligence loved my press conference performance in Helsinki,” Trump tweets, leaving unclear whether he was referring to top spies or smart people.
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Trump attempts to backtrack on his Helsinki comments, saying he has full faith in U.S. intelligence officials and misspoke in his remark about Russian involvement.
“I said the word ‘would’ instead of ‘wouldn’t,’” he says. “The sentence should have been, ‘I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be Russia.’ ”
••• Sources close to the Cohen investigation say the lawyer secretly recorded Trump discussing a potential payment for a former Playboy model’s account of having an affair with him.
••• Trump again invites Putin to the White House. Aides who are still dealing with the fallout of Helsinki are stunned, as evidenced by Coats when he’s informed of the invitation while appearing onstage at a security forum. “O … K …,” he says, slowly, “that’s going to be special.” The meeting is eventually put off.
••• During a Cabinet meeting, Trump says “No,” when asked by a reporter whether he believes Russia is still targeting the U.S. with cyberattacks. Sanders later says Trump was indicating that he would take no more questions.
Week 79 (July 22-28)
The Trump administration announces that it will provide $12 billion in “temporary relief” to farmers who’ve suffered collateral damage from Trump’s “easy to win” trade war.
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Cease fire in the trade war: Trump and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker announce they’ve agreed to postpone car tariffs and work to resolve their dispute on steel and aluminum tariffs while negotiating a bilateral trade deal.
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At a VFW rally in Kansas City, Mo., Trump says: “Don’t believe the crap you see from these people, the fake news … What you’re seeing and what you’re reading is not what’s happening.”
Week 80 (July 29-Aug. 4)
Arguing the need for a voter ID law during a rally, Trump falsely claims that picture IDs are required to buy groceries.
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In a tweeted rant, Trump again pressures Sessions to shut down the Russia investigation: “This is a terrible situation and Attorney General Jeff Sessions should stop this Rigged Witch Hunt right now, before it continues to stain our country any further.”
••• Sanders denies that Trump was obstructing justice with the tweet. “It’s not an order. It’s the president’s opinion,” she says. “He’s fighting back.”
••• Prelude to a scandal: In a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, psychology professor Christine Blasey Ford alleges that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were in high school. At Ford’s request, Feinstein does not release the letter.
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The administration unveils a plan to roll back Obama-era fuel mileage standards for automobiles. The standards were designed to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
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As a September deadline approaches, Trump says he’ll have “no problem” shutting down the government if Congress doesn’t provide more money for border security.
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The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rules that Trump exceeded his authority in limiting federal funding to so-called sanctuary cities.
Week 81 (Aug. 5-11)
As the new NFL season gets underway, Trump resumes his Twitter attack on protesting players: “A football game, that fans are paying soooo much money to watch and enjoy, is no place to protest. Most of that money goes to the players anyway. Find another way to protest. Stand proudly for your National Anthem or be Suspended Without Pay!”
Week 82 (Aug. 12-18)
Trump revokes the security clearance of former CIA director William Brennan, a vocal critic of the president, and announces he’s considering doing the same for several other former officials solely because they’ve criticized him. No national security rationale is presented, and critics point out this will make it harder for intelligence services to confer with past leaders on issues.
••• Fifteen top former intelligence officials from both Republican and Democratic administrations take the unprecedented step of signing a letter backing Brennan. Sixty former CIA officials submit a similar letter.
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A day after officials announce that Trump’s military parade will cost $92 million to stage — and amid ongoing public ridicule of the event — Trump pulls the plugonit.
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In an initiative organized by The Boston Globe, hundreds of newspapers publish editorials stressing the importance of press freedoms to a democracy and saying that journalists are not the enemy of the American people.
••• Reacting to a new book by former White House staffer Omarosa Manigault Newman, the only African-American to have served in a senior role in the West Wing, Trump refers to her by tweet as “that dog.”
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Trump does something that was once considered practically unthinkable by encouraging a boycott against an American vehicle maker. In this case, it’s Harley-Davidson.
In one of two bombshell developments this week, Cohen pleads guilty to campaign finance violations and other charges stemming from his collaboration with Trump to pay hush money to Daniels and McDougal. He indicates he’s prepared to work with prosecutors.
••• Bombshell No. 2: Manafort is convicted on five counts of tax fraud, one count of failure to file a report of foreign bank and financial accounts, and two counts of bankfraud.
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The New York Times reports that White House counsel Don McGahn has cooperated extensively with the Mueller team. Trump lashes out on Twitter: “The failing @nytimes wrote a Fake piece today implying that because White House Councel Don McGahn was giving hours of testimony to the Special Councel, he must be a John Dean type “RAT.” But I allowed him and all others to testify - I didn’t have to. I have nothing to hide ...... ”
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The U.S. ratchets up the trade war with new tariffs on $16 billion worth of Chinese goods. China immediately responds in kind. The trade war hasn’t been won yet, easily or otherwise.
••• Darren Beattie, a speechwriter for Trump, is fired after it’s revealed that he appeared at a conference frequently attended by white nationalists.
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Paging George Orwell …: Defending Trump’s decision not to perjure himself by appearing before the special counsel, Giuliani — the former New York mayor and ontological expert — says, “truth isn’t truth.”
Week 84 (Aug. 26-Sept. 1)
The day after the death of McCain, the White House raises its flag back to full staff. Amid public outcry, Trump orders it again lowered to half-staff. Trump is not invited to McCain’s funeral Instead he goes golfing. During the service, McCain’s daughter, Meghan, says: “The America of John McCain has no need to be made great again because America was always great.”
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Hot on the tail of The New York Times story, the White House announces that McGahn will be leaving the administration in the fall.
• • •
Citing budget constraints, Trump cancels pay raises for federal employees that were due to begin in January. Critics point out that the constraints are partially caused by Trump’s massive tax cut for the wealthy.
••• Trump tweets that the U.S. will halt military exercises in South Korea, setting off alarms in Seoul and at the Pentagon. Only a day earlier, Mattis had said there were no plans to suspend the exercises.
Week 85 (Sept. 2-8)
At a campaign rally in Indiana, Trump blasts the DOJ and FBI, and threatens to intervene, presumably to limit their ability for independent inquiries.
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In a new book, “Fear: Trump in the White House,” Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward paints a picture of an administration in dysfunction and disarray, with Trump routinely hiding away watching TV and tweeting for hours on end, erupting at staff members and aides ignoring his directives to circumvent decisions they believed would have disastrous repercussions. Trump calls the book a scam, apparently while watching TV and tweeting.
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In an opinion piece published by The New York Times — headlined “I am part of the resistance inside the Trump administration” — an anonymous writer claiming to be a senior official in the administration says aides are indeed opposing dangerous actions and ideas by Trump. The writer further says that some Cabinet members had discussed invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from power because he’s mentally unfit for office.
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Trump questions whether the author of the “resistance” commentary committed treason and calls on Sessions to investigate the individual.
••• Speculation runs rampant over the source of the column. “I have to say, I’m surprised by how good a writer Ivanka is,” latenight talk show host Jimmy Kimmeljokes.
••• George Papadopoulos is sentenced to 14 days in jail, becoming the first person to be sentenced in connection with the Mueller investigation.
••• Kavanaugh’s three-day confirmation hearing is held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Ford’s allegations are not discussed, but Feinstein later sends her letter to the FBI after rumors surface about it being leaked.
Week 86 (Sept. 9-15)
Days after new research shows that upwards of 3,000 people died in Puerto Rico as a result of Hurricane Maria, Trump tweets that the federal government did “an unappreciated great job” and blasts the mayor of San Juan as incompetent. Later, Trump asserts without evidence that “3000 people did not die” and that the figure was concocted by Democrats to “make me look as bad as possible.”
Week 87 (Sept. 16-22)
Ford’s allegations against Kavanaugh go public. In an interview with The Washington Post, she says Kavanaugh assaulted her while heavily intoxicated at a high school party.
••• Kavanaugh’s confirmation vote is pushed back three days so the committee can question both Ford and Kavanaugh. The story prompts two other women to come forward with similar allegations.
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Trump casts doubt on Ford’s allegation in a tweet, saying “if the attack on Dr. Ford was as bad as she says, charges would have been immediately filed with local Law Enforcement Authorities by either her or her loving parents.”
••• Another escalation of the trade war with China occurs when the U.S. announces tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods. China responds with tariffs on an additional $60 billion in U.S. products. •••
The administration reduces the 2019 refugee allowance to 30,000.
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The New York Times reports that the Health and Human Services Department has lost track of 1,488 children who were placed with sponsors after being separated from their parents at theborder. •••
In an interview, Trump launches his most pointed attack to date on Sessions: “I don’t have an attorney general.” In the same interview, he calls the Mueller investigation a “cancer on our country.”
• • • During a tour of a neighborhood ravaged by Hurricane Florence, Trump comes across a large yacht that has been washed onto a resident’s property. “At least you got a nice boat out of the deal,” he says. Social media erupts with commenters criticizing Trump for trivializing the plight of hurricane survivors. But ...
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… Stephen Colbert and his “Late Show” staff turn the comment into gold for charities by using them as the basis for a best-selling book, “Whose boat is this boat? Comments that Don’t Help in the Aftermath of a Hurricane.” Colbert and the staff donate a portion of the proceeds to charitable organizations, raising more than $1.25 million. The spoof is formatted like a children’s book.
Week 88 (Sept. 23-29)
A transfixed nation watches Ford and Kavanaugh testify about Ford’s allegation. Ford says she’s “100 percent” confident her recollection of the incident was accurate. Kavanaugh “categorically and unequivocally” denies it and accuses Democrats of character assassination.
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In one of many bizarre moments in his testimony, during an exchange with Sen. Amy Klobuchar in which he alternated between being combative and insolent, Kavanaugh pauses in his celebration of beer (“I like beer… I still like beer, senator... What kind of beer do you like?) the Supreme Court nominee is asked if he ever blacked out drinking. His answer suggests he can not recall: “You’re asking about blackout. I don’t know, have you?”
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Amid drama over whether Kavanaugh has enough votes on the committee, the panel agrees to a compromise in which it will move the nomination to the full Senate but also ask Trump to order an FBI investigation into the allegation. Trump agrees to the request but orders the investigation to be completed in one week.
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In a speech before the United Nations General Assembly, Trump draws unintended laughter after claiming that his administration “has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country.”
Week 89 (Sept. 30-Oct. 6)
Amid the FBI investigation, Trump mocks Ford during a campaign rally in Missouri. Mischaracterizing her testimony, he says, “How did you get home? I don’t remember. How’d you get there? I don’t remember. Where is the place? I don’t remember. How many years ago was it? I don’t know.” His remarks draw a wave of criticism, including from several congressional Republicans. •••
On Oct. 6, after the completion of the FBI investigation that critics charge was highly limited in scope, the Senate votes 50-48 to approve Kavanaugh.
••• Fulfilling a Trump campaign promise, the White House announces that a deal has been struck to replace NAFTA with the USMCA: the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The deal is quickly dubbed NAFTA 2.0 and described as a tweak of the former agreement as opposed to a wholesale overhaul.
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The New York Times reports that Trump received more than $400 million from his father through means that included tax dodges and fraud. The story contradicts the president’s narrative that he amassed billions in wealth after starting with a $1 million loan from his father.
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The third quarter of 2018 closes with GDP growth of 3.5 percent.
Week 90 (Oct. 7-13)
Hurricane Michael roars onto land in the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 storm, killing dozens and causing more than $14 billion in damage. Trump holds a campaign rally the same day the storm makes landfall despite criticizing Obama in 2012 for appearing at a rally two weeks after Superstorm Sandy.
••• At Kavanaugh’s swearing-in ceremony, Trump apologizes to the new justice “on behalf of our nation.”
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Amid growing global outcry over the slaying of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Trump vows “severe punishment” for Saudi Arabia if the regime is found responsible for Khashoggi’s death, but also rejects the idea of sanctions.
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In a meeting that will be described as “awkward,” “incredibly bizarre” and “surreal,” Kanye West speaks with Trump at the White House, where he goes on a nearly 10-minute monologue on a range of topics, including saying Trump needs the “flyest” plane for Air Force One and noting that his MAGA hat makes him feel like Superman.
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The EPA announces it will discontinue a scientific review panel that advises about safe levels of air pollution.
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After a judge throws out a defamation suit by Daniels against Trump, the president refers to her as “Horseface” in a tweet. In an apparent reference to the size of his genitalia, she replies “Game on, Tiny.”
Week 91 (Oct. 14-20)
In the largest attempted mass political assassination in American history, pipe bombs are mailed to a number of individuals and organizations who have been critical of Trump, including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and CNN. The situation prompts numerous calls for Trump to dial back his rhetorical attacks on the media and his critics.
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Trump initially calls for unity in the face of the attempted bombings but soon lashes out at the criticism. He then laments that the crisis has cooled Republicans’ momentum in the midterms, prompting critics to say he’s supporting a false-flag theory among right-wing extremists that Democrats schemed up the bomb deliveries to vilify the GOP.
••• Authorities arrest a Florida man living in a van covered with Trump stickers in connection with the incidents.
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At a campaign rally, Trump praises Republican Rep. Greg Gianforte for body-slamming a reporter in 2017. “Any guy that can do a body slam — he’s my kindofguy.”
••• Trump claims without evidence that Democrats are behind the Central American caravan. He suggests they’re encouraging the immigrants to cast illegal votes for them in the midterms.
••• Despite growing evidence that members of Saudi Arabia’s royal family were involved in Khashoggi’s murder, Trump defends the Saudis. “Just spoke with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia who totally denied any knowledge of what took place in their Turkish Consulate,” he tweets.
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Asked later by the Associated Press about Saudi involvement, Trump says, “Here we go again with, ‘You’re guilty until proven innocent’.”
Week 92 (Oct. 21-27)
A white nationalist shoots and kills 11 people worshipping at the Tree of Life synagogue in a Pittsburgh suburb. Trump condemns the attacks. But when critics again say his rhetoric has helped give rise to hate crimes, Trump blames the media.
••• Trump tells the crowd at a campaign rally in Houston, “You know what I am? I’m a nationalist.” ••• Regarding the Tree of Life, Trump says: “Through the centuries, the Jews have endured terrible persecution. You know that. We have all read it. We have studied it.” Later, he adds, “If there was an armed guard inside the temple, they would have been able to stop him.”
•••
When Trump announces he’ll visit the synagogue, 11 local Jewish leaders react with a statement: “President Trump, you are not welcome in Pittsburgh until you fully denounce white nationalism.”
••• Trump once again invites Putin to the White House.
••• American history Trumpstyle, addendum: Trump tells a rally crowd he is second only to George Washington in terms of filling the Supreme Court. In fact, he’s tied with the last four presidents and is well behind Franklin Roosevelt (nine) and Ronald Reagan (four).