The following is a timeline of the first presidency of Donald Trump during the first quarter of 2017, beginning from his inauguration as the 45th president of the United States on January 20, 2017, to March 31, 2017.
Trump's first presidential transition began on November 9, 2016, when the media called the 2016 presidential election. The period saw the creation of Trump's transition team, composed of political outsiders, businesspeople and high-ranking military figures, and saw the removal of Chris Christie, the governor of New Jersey, as transition chairman, as well as the appointment of Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as a senior adviser. Approximately 4,000 positions in the federal government were filed across the executive branch. Trump also announced the Trump Organization would transfer management to his older children, though that he would retain ownership.
During the first quarter of 2017, Executive Order 13769 was signed on January 27, which suspended refugee admissions and barred citizens of seven countries from entering the US, prompting legal challenges and partial stays leading to a nationwide block upheld February 9. Executive Order 13780, a revised order removing Iraq from the ban and which clarified lawful permanent residents were exempt from it, was issued on March 6; it was similarly enjoined between March 15–16, with the injunction extended on March 29. A fight to secure funding for the construction of the Mexico–United States border wall began with executive orders issued on January 25, which also expanded immigration enforcement, altered deportation priorities and sought to penalize sanctuary jurisdictions. On February 21, the Trump administration issued memoranda announcing 15,000 additional immigration enforcement roles and broader removal policies.
New appointments in government included, on January 20, Jim Mattis and John F. Kelly as the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security, respectively. From late January to March, cabinet confirmations including Rex Tillerson, Jeff Sessions, Betsy DeVos, Tom Price, Steven Mnuchin, Wilbur Ross, Ryan Zinke, Ben Carson, Rick Perry and Scott Pruitt were made. Following controversy over contacts with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak, Michael Flynn resigned as National Security Advisor on February 13, to be succeeded by H. R. McMaster, who was appointed on February 20. Sally Yates, acting Attorney General appointed under President Obama, was dismissed by Trump on January 30 after instructing the Department of Justice not to defend or enforce Executive Order 13769.
US real gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an annual rate of 0.7% this quarter, the slowest pace since early 2014. Growth was driven by increased business investment and services, but held back by declines in motor vehicles, inventories and government spending. As of March 31, 2017, the national debt was $19.8 trillion, down 0.65% from the previous quarter. According to FiveThirtyEight, Trump's approval rate at the end of March was 40.5%, down 5% from the start of his presidency. This placed him well below the approval levels typically seen this early in a president's first term, continuing a steady decline that began shortly after his inauguration. It reflected growing dissatisfaction over policies such as the attempted repeal of the Affordable Care Act; the sharpest declines were seem among independents and younger voters.
Timeline January 2017
Date Events Photos/videos Friday, January 20 Mike Pence takes the vice-presidential oath of office as the 48th vice president of the United States followed by Donald Trump taking the presidential oath of office as the 45th president of the United States. President Trump proclaims a National Day of Patriotic Devotion. According to contested reports in December 2017, while seated at Trump's inauguration speech, Michael Flynn, the forthcoming National Security Advisor, texts a former business partner that Russian sanctions blocking a private Russian-backed plan to build nuclear plants in the Middle East will now be "ripped up". State officials in Florida, Delaware and New York confirm they have not received paperwork that Trump has relinquished control over his companies, despite earlier promises to do so. Trump issues Executive Order 13765 to scale back parts of the Affordable Care Act. The Trump administration suspends an Obama administration cut to Federal Housing Authority mortgage insurance premiums. Trump signs a bill waiving a rule that requires military personnel to wait seven years after retiring before serving in a civilian post, to allow retired Marine general Jim Mattis to become US Secretary of Defense. The Senate confirms Mattis as the 26th US Secretary of Defense in a vote of 98–1 and retired Marine general John F. Kelly as the 5th US Secretary of Homeland Security in a vote of 88–11. Protests damage parts of downtown Washington DC, leading to 217 arrests and 9 injuries. Saturday, January 21 An estimated 2.5 million people around the world attend the Women's March protesting the new administration, one of the largest single-day protests in US history. Trump and Vice President Pence attend the inaugural prayer service at the National Cathedral. Trump and Pence speak at CIA headquarters. Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, accuses the media of inaccurately representing the presidential inauguration attendance. Spicer does not take questions from the press and is criticized for making inaccurate statements. Trump appoints Michael Flynn as National Security Advisor. Two US drone strikes in Al Bayda Governorate of Yemen are the first reported drone actions under the Trump administration. A secure video call to discuss sanctions against the FSB and GRU between Trump and Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, suggested by Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak to National Security Advisor Flynn during a December 29, 2016, phone call, possibly takes place. Sunday, January 22 Trump calls Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, to discuss Iran, ISIS and the Israeli–Palestinian peace process. Pence administers the oath of office for the White House senior staff. White House counselor Kellyanne Conway coins the term "alternative facts" during an interview. The White House announces they will not release Trump's tax returns. Trump speaks to Nathan Deal, the governor of Georgia, about the tornado outbreak in the Southeast which killed 20 people and caused $1.3 billion in damage. Foreign Adviser George Papadopoulos meets in Washington DC with Yossi Dagan, the head of Israel's Shomron Regional Council. Monday, January 23 Trump meets with twelve CEOs of major US companies. Trump signs three memoranda. The first withdraws the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Another reinstates the Mexico City Policy which bars international NGOs from receiving foreign aid that "offer or promote abortions as part of their family planning services". The third initiates a 90-day hiring freeze on the federal workforce. Trump claims 3–5 million illegal votes cost him the popular vote in a private meeting with congressional leaders. Trump speaks with Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the president of Egypt, saying the US remains committed to their relationship and to continue military assistance to Egypt, discussing ways the US could support Egypt's economic reform program. The Senate confirms Mike Pompeo as the Director of the CIA in a vote of 66–32. A federal-court lawsuit is filed accusing Trump of violating the Constitution's Foreign Emoluments Clause. Trump designates Ajit Varadaraj Pai as the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. The Trump administration removes former US Secretary of State John Kerry's apology for the Lavender Scare from the US Department of State's website. Tuesday, January 24 Trump signs Executive Order 13766 which expedites environmental reviews and approvals for future infrastructure projects. Trump signs four memoranda. Two of them reverse the Obama administration's halt on the Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines, the latter of which had been the subject of protests by the Standing Rock tribe. Trump says these projects will recover 28,000 jobs. Another memorandum requires the pipelines use domestic steel (a directive shortly overturned by the White House in respect of Keystone), and the last calls for "expedited reviews of and approvals for" manufacturing facilities and "reductions in regulatory burdens" affecting domestic manufacturing. Trump speaks with Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India. National Security Advisor Flynn is interviewed by the FBI about prior conversations with Russian ambassador Kislyak. Flynn pleads guilty on December 1, 2017, to lying during the interview. The Senate confirms Nikki Haley as the Ambassador to the United Nations in a vote of 96–4. Wednesday, January 25 Trump issues Executive Order 13767 directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to begin construction of a wall on the US–Mexico border. Enrique Peña Nieto, the president of Mexico, rejects the idea that Mexico would pay for any border wall between his country and the US. Trump issues Executive Order 13768, cutting federal funding for sanctuary cities who refuse to comply with immigration enforcement measures. The order also increases border patrol and immigration officers and changes deportation standards. Trump bans US Environmental Protection Agency employees from contact with journalists or engagement on social media. Trump announces he intends to investigate alleged voter fraud in the 2016 presidential election. Thursday, January 26 Trump visits Philadelphia to address Congressional Republican leaders, regarding his agenda. He speaks at the Loews Hotel, along with Theresa May, the prime minister of the United Kingdom. Press Secretary Spicer announces the border wall might be funded by a 20% tax on imports from Mexico. Mexican president Nieto cancels a proposed meeting with Trump due to controversy over Trump suggesting Mexico would pay for the wall. Trump proclaims the start of National School Choice Week. Patrick F. Kennedy, Joyce Anne Barr, Michele Thoren Bond and Gentry O. Smith resign from the Department of State after Victoria Nuland and Gregory B. Starr decline to stay on in the Trump administration. Acting Attorney General Sally Yates informs White House Counsel Don McGahn that National Security Advisor Flynn's public account of his interactions with Russian officials during the transition were untruthful, making him vulnerable to blackmail. Friday, January 27 Trump speaks with Mexican president Nieto on the phone to discuss US–Mexico relations in lieu of their canceled meeting. Trump holds a bilateral meeting and joint press conference with British prime minister May at the White House, where they discuss sanctions on Russia, NATO and US torture policy. May is the first foreign leader to visit Trump since his inauguration. During a visit to the Pentagon, Trump signs Executive Order 13769, suspending the Refugee Admissions Program for 120 days and denying entry to citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. Trump signs a memorandum calling for budget negotiations about the expansion and strengthening of the US military. Pence speaks at the March for Life in Washington DC. Trump has a one-on-one dinner with FBI Director James Comey. Later news reports state Trump asked Comey to pledge loyalty to him, and that Comey demurred. The White House denies this version of events.