Here’s everything you need to know about Trump’s first week in office
President Trump’s first week in office was a busy one. He signed more than a dozen presidential actions, draped the Oval Office in gold and dominated headlines. Let’s break it down:
Inauguration Day, Jan. 20
- And so it begins. Trump’s speech was dark, like “This American carnage stops right here” dark.
- That night, Trump signed an executive order telling his federal agencies to “ease the burden of Obamacare.” It’s largely symbolic.
Weekend, Jan. 21 and Jan. 22
- The next day, millions of people around the world took to the streets to join the Women’s March.
- “Alternative facts” became the buzzword as Trump aides defended their claims about crowd sizes at Trump’s inauguration. Fact: They got it wrong.
Monday, Jan. 23
- Trump wasn’t down with the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership). On his first official day on the job, he delivered the coup de grace to the free-trade agreement, which was already as good as dead in Congress.
- The so-called global gag order is back. Trump reinstated a ban on government support for international aid groups that perform and discuss abortions.
- Fact check: The 45th president said “illegals” cost him the popular vote. There’s no evidence for that.
- A false report was the talk of the town. Time mistakenly reported that the bust of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. had been removed from the Oval Office and replaced with one of Winston Churchill. The magazine quickly corrected the error and apologized.
Tuesday, Jan. 24
- It was a cold day at the Environmental Protection Agency. Trump ordered a freeze on all new contracts and grants.
- He also instituted a media blackout at the EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That meant no press releases, no blog posts and no social media.
- The pipeline debate isn’t over. Trump brought the XL Keystone and Dakota pipelines back to life. Both had been blocked under President Obama.
Wednesday, Jan. 25
- Build that wall? Trump told the Department of Homeland Security to get started.
- He also brought out the big stick, signing an executive order to withhold money from sanctuary cities. How it would work is unclear. Still, L.A. is not happy.
- The alleged illegal voting saga continued. Trump wants a “major investigation” into voter fraud.
- Speaking of which, the Washington Post reported that Tiffany Trump, White House spokesman Sean Spicer and other members of President Trump’s family and administration were registered to vote in two states.
- Back to reality TV: Trump gave his first prime-time interview as president. Here’s what we learned.
Thursday, Jan. 26
- Can you say “drama”? Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto canceled his Jan. 31 visit to the White House after Trump doubled down on his demand that Mexico pay for the border wall. They chatted by phone the next day.
- Trump proposed a 20% import tax and said it could pay for the border wall. It might cost you.
- He also floated the idea of bringing back torture, then deferred to his Defense secretary, who opposes the practice as illegal and ineffective.
Friday, Jan. 27
- Trump signed an executive order that would block all refugees from entering the U.S. for 120 days, and added travel restrictions from Muslim countries.
- Nieto who? Trump’s first face-to-face meeting with a world leader ended up being with British Prime Minister Theresa May.
- Make way for military changes. Trump ordered the Pentagon to review the nation’s military from top to bottom.
- Abortion opponents held their 44th annual march in Washington, D.C. Vice President Mike Pence made an appearance.
Saturday, Jan. 28
- First day of Trump’s travel ban to the U.S. Refugees and those from several Muslim-majority countries were turned away from U.S.-bound flights. Lawyers geared up to fight.
Grade the president
Whew! Now that you’re all caught up, here’s your chance to tell us what you think of Trump as we track his major moves over the next 100 days.
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UPDATES:
1:05 p.m.: This article was updated with information about Trump’s immigration policy.
5:20 p.m.: This article was updated with information about Trump’s conversation with Putin and Saturday’s executive orders.
This article was originally published at 6 a.m.
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