The following is a timeline of the presidency of George W. Bush, from January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2003.
January January 2 – Bush reaffirms his intent to focus on safeguarding the United States and its people and says that the administration is working with foreign allies to convince North Korea to discontinue the creation and proliferating of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) while speaking to the press at the Prairie Chapel Ranch in Crawford, Texas.President Focuses on U.S. Economy, Iraq & N. Korea (January 2, 2003) January 3 – President Bush attends a rally of American troops at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, during the morning.President Rallies Troops at Fort Hood (January 3, 2003) President Bush announces his nomination of Ross Owen for Special Trustee for American Indians at the Department of the Interior.President Bush Announced Nomination of Ross Owen (January 3, 2003) January 4 – President Bush issues a statement on the African Growth and Opportunity Act.Statement on AGOA (January 4, 2003) January 20 – President Bush speaks at the First Baptist Church in Landover, Maryland. Bush calls on those present to "remember the dream of Martin Luther King and remember his clear vision for a society that's equal and a society full of justice, this society must remember the power of faith."President Bush Honors Martin Luther King, Junior in Church Service (January 20, 2003) January 22 – The Senate confirms Tom Ridge for United States Secretary of Homeland Security.Senate Confirms Ridge (January 22, 2003) January 24 – Tom Ridge is sworn in as United States Secretary of Homeland Security in the Cross Hall.Ridge Sworn In as Secretary of Homeland Security (January 24, 2003) January 25 – President Bush talks about domestic policies in a radio address.President Bush Discusses State of the Union (January 25, 2003) January 27 – President Bush announces the nominations of nine individuals for membership to the Cultural Property Advisory Committee.President Bush Announces Intention to Nominate (January 27, 2003) January 28 – President Bush delivers his annual State of the Union Address before a joint session of Congress.President Bush Delivers State of the Union Address (January 28, 2003) January 29 – President Bush makes a call for reform of the Medicare system within the US during a speech at Devos Performance Hall in Grand Rapids, Michigan.President Calls for Strengthened and Reformed Medicare Program (January 29, 2003) January 30 – President Bush has a White House meeting with Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi and a joint press conference with Berlusconi later in the day.President Bush Meets with Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi (January 30, 2003) Bush commemorates the anniversary of the United States Freedom Corps during a speech in Washington.President Commemorates 1st Anniversary of Freedom Corps (January 30, 2003) Vice President Dick Cheney speaks at the 30th Political Action Conference in Arlington, Virginia.Vice President's Remarks at 30th Political Action Conference (January 30, 2003) January 31 – President Bush delivers an address on HIV both domestically and worldwide in Room 450 of the Dwight E. Eisenhower Executive Office Building during the morning.President Discusses the Fight Against Global and Domestic HIV/AIDS (January 31, 2003) In the afternoon, the President meets with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair at the White House, President Bush saying afterward in a joint conference that their discussion was on "a lot of issues."President Bush Meets with Prime Minister Blair (January 31, 2003) President Bush announces his nominations of Ellen G. Engleman for membership on the National Transportation Safety Board, Jerry Pinkney and Karen Lias Wolff for membership on the National Council on the Arts, Jose Luis Galvez III for membership on the National Capital Planning Commission, and designation of Diane M. Stuart for Acting Director of the Violence Against Women Office at the Department of Justice.President Bush Announces Intention to Nominate (January 31, 2003)
February February 1 – Space Shuttle Columbia is destroyed upon re-entering the Earth's atmosphere. All seven crew members perish. February 2 – President Bush addresses the casualty of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster during a memorial service at the Johnson Space Center. February 5 – President Bush meets with congressional leaders at the White House to discuss Secretary of State Collin Powell's presentation at the United Nations attempting to convince other countries of Iraq's defying of disagreement resolutions. February 6 – President Bush announces an initiative of 1.2 million aimed at hydrogen fuel of high interest for both vehicle empowerment and electricity generation while at the National Building Museum in Washington. February 7 – While at the Treasury Department, Bush tells reporters the meeting of the UN Security Council is at "a defining moment" in having to decide whether there will be "any force" in the resolution ordering Iraq to disarm. February 8 – President Bush issues a written statement on the El Nogal Club blast in Colombia from the previous night through the White House. February 9 – The Homeland Security Council raises the national threat level of chemical or biological attacks from Al-Qaeda from yellow to orange. February 10 – President Bush accuses Saddam Hussein of regarding Iraqis as "human shields" during a speech to the National Religious Broadcasters convention. February 11 – Pentagon officials state military vehicles equipped with anti-aircraft missiles have been released to guard Washington and patrols of fighter jets around Washington, D.C. and New York City have increased thanks to elevated risks of a terrorist attack. February 24–25 – President Bush holds a bilateral meeting with Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.
March March 1 – President Bush discusses reforming Iraq during his radio address.President's Radio Address (March 1, 2003) March 4 – President Bush delivers a speech on Medicare reform during the morning.President Announces Framework to Modernize and Improve Medicare (March 4, 2003) March 5 – President Bush has a half-hour long meeting with Cardinal Pio Laghi, Laghi saying after the meeting that he conveyed Pope John Paul II's to not go to war with Iraq. March 14 – President Bush delivers an address on achieving peace in the Middle East in the Rose Garden during the morning.President Discusses Roadmap for Peace in the Middle East (March 14, 2003) March 15 – President Bush discusses the leadership of Iraq and efforts by the US to intervene during his radio address.President Discusses Iraq in Radio Address (March 15, 2003) March 16 – President Bush declares the following day will be "the day that we will determine whether or not diplomacy can work" while in Azores, Portugal during the evening.President Bush: Monday "Moment of Truth" for World on Iraq (March 16, 2003) March 17 – President Bush promises Saddam Hussein will soon be gone and issues a 48-hour ultimatum to Saddam and his sons in a televised address from the White House. March 19 – President Bush addresses the nation from the Oval Office and declares war with Iraq. March 21 – President Bush issues a statement thanking Congress for "resolutions which said loud and clear, our country supports the men and women in uniform."President Thanks Congress (May 21, 2003) March 23 – President Bush holds a questions and answers session on the ongoing conflict in Iraq, saying he is "pleased with the progress that we're making", in the afternoon hours.President Discusses Military Operation (March 23, 2003) March 26 – President Bush delivers a speech at the MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida during the morning.President Rallies Troops at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa (March 26, 2003) President Bush issues a statement on the death of Daniel Patrick Moynihan.President's Statement on the Passing of Senator Moynihan (March 26, 2003) March 28 – President Bush gives a praiseful speech on the United States Military in the East Room of the White House.President Salutes the Military (March 28, 2003) March 29 – President Bush claims the United States and coalition troops "have cleared mines from the water and taken control of a key port city, to allow humanitarian aid to begin flowing into" Iraq during his weekly radio address.President Discusses Iraqi Freedom Progress in Radio Address (March 29, 2003) March 31 – President Bush delivers a speech at the Port of Philadelphia.President Updates America on Operations Liberty Shield and Iraqi Freedom (March 31, 2003)
April April 3 – President Bush delivers a speech on Iraq to service members and their families at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.President Discusses Operation Iraqi Freedom at Camp Lejeune (April 3, 2003) April 4 – President Bush issues a statement praising Congress "for responding with bipartisan cooperation and speed to my request for supplemental war funding."President Commends Congress for Acting on War Supplemental (April 4, 2003) April 5 – President Bush mentions the aid that Americans have given to Iraqis and the war in general during his radio address.Operation Iraqi Freedom (April 5, 2003) April 8 – President Bush holds a meeting with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair at the Hillsborough Castle in Belfast, Northern Ireland.President Bush Meets with Prime Minister Blair in Northern Ireland (April 8, 2003) April 9 – President Bush releases a statement in support of the Senate's choice to pass faith-based legislation, following the capture of Baghdad, Bush issued a statement celebrating the end of major combat operations and the success of the invasion in toppling the dictator Saddam Hussein after the United States coalition forces, including the British and other NATO allies, had been advancing on Baghdad for weeks, "this legislation contains key elements of the faith-based initiative that I proposed more than two years ago to encourage more charitable giving and rally the armies of compassion that exist in communities all across America."President Commends Senate Passage of Faith-Based Legislation (April 9, 2003) April 10 – President Bush, speaking directly to Iraqis in his statement, proclaims the "nightmare that Saddam Hussein has brought to your nation will soon be over."President's Message to the Iraqi People (April 10, 2003) April 11 – President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush visit Walter Reed Army Medical Center and National Naval Medical Center.President Visits Soldiers at Army and Navy Medical Centers (April 11, 2003) April 28 – President Bush releases a statement on the death of Edward Gaylord, lauding his life and expressing condolences to his family.Statement by the President (April 28, 2003) President Bush delivers an address on Iraq at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, Michigan during the afternoon.President Discusses the Future of Iraq (April 28, 2003) April 29 – President Bush releases a statement expressing his satisfaction with Jeffrey Sutton being confirmed by the Senate for Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit.Statement by the President (April 29, 2003) President Bush delivers an address calling on both chambers of Congress to respond to the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative in the East Room during the afternoon.President Urges Congress to Act Quickly on Global HIV/AIDS Initiative (April 29, 2003)