The following is a list of notable events, births and deaths from 2020 in the United States.
The US was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which by the end of the year killed over 300,000 people within American borders. America also became a political battleground for various issues, with various instances of racism and more so police brutality commencing a wide movement of racial unrest and the George Floyd protests. The year has been characterized by some as among the most tumultuous in American history.
Donald Trump was a central figure to American politics during his final full year of his first term as president, which saw not only the pandemic and racial unrest but also Trump's first impeachment trial and the appointment of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. While Trump lost the 2020 election to former Vice President Joe Biden, he disputed the result of the election, and his efforts to overturn the election continues for years. Even after his 2025 inauguration he continued to make claims that the election was stolen.
Incumbents
Federal government President: Donald Trump (R-Florida) Vice President: Mike Pence (R-Indiana) Chief Justice: John Roberts (Maryland) Speaker of the House: Nancy Pelosi (D-California) Senate Majority Leader: Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) Congress: 116th
State governments Governors and lieutenant governors Governors
Lieutenant governors
Demographics
Ongoing events COVID-19 pandemic in the United States United States racial unrest (2020–2023) 2020 United States elections
Events
January January 1 Recreational marijuana becomes legal in Illinois. Several new regulations take effect in the United States, including new regulations on retirement funds, new minimum wage rules, and new overtime rules. Public Domain Day: All books and films published in 1924 enter the public domain in the United States. January 3 – 2019–2021 Persian Gulf crisis: President Donald Trump approves the targeted killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in Baghdad, Iraq. January 5 – The 77th Golden Globe Awards are held in Beverly Hills, California.Golden Globes 2020: Where to watch, date, start time and nominations Jennifer Bisset, Cnet.com, retrieved December 31, 2019 January 6 – Former film producer Harvey Weinstein is charged with four additional counts of rape and sexual battery in a Los Angeles court. January 8 The American Cancer Society reports a 2.2% drop in the cancer death rate between 2016 and 2017, the largest single-year decline in mortality for this disease ever recorded in the U.S. January 10 For the first time since the Great Recession, women outnumber men in the American workforce, with women holding 50.04% of all jobs. January 14 The seventh Democratic presidential debate is held in Des Moines, Iowa, with six candidates participating. The Women's National Basketball Association and its players' union reach an eight-year agreement allowing top players to earn $500,000 with an average salary of $130,000. It also provides fully paid maternity leave."Historic" WNBA labor deal to hike average salary to $130,000, provide paid maternity leave CBS News, January 14, 2020 En route to Shanghai, Delta Air Lines Flight 89 dumps fuel on a school playground near Los Angeles International Airport. 60 people, including 17 children, are treated for skin irritation.60 People Treated for Skin Irritation After a Plane Dumps Fuel Over School Near LAX By Jonathan Lloyd and Patrick Healy, NBC 4 News, January 14, 2020 California elementary school students hurt after plane dumps fuel over playground; more than 50 people treated By Louis Casiano, Fox News, January 14, 2020 January 15 – President Donald Trump and China's Vice Premier Liu He sign the U.S.–China Phase One trade deal in Washington, D.C. January 16 – The impeachment trial of President Donald Trump begins in the U.S. Senate. January 20 – 22,000 people attend a gun rights rally at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond to protest proposed gun laws. January 21 – COVID-19 pandemic: The first case of COVID-19 in the United States is confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). January 22 – The Oakland Raiders officially relocate to Las Vegas, Nevada. January 24 – Donald Trump becomes the first sitting president to personally attend the annual March for Life anti-abortion protest in Washington, D.C. January 26 A helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, kills nine people, including basketball star Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant. The 62nd Annual Grammy Awards are held in Los Angeles, California, hosted by Alicia Keys. January 28 Fotis Dulos attempts suicide at his home in Connecticut and is airlifted to a Bronx hospital where he dies 2 days later. January 29 COVID-19 pandemic: President Donald Trump establishes the White House Coronavirus Task Force. President Trump signs the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA). January 30 – COVID-19 pandemic: The CDC confirms the first case of human-to-human transmission of the COVID-19 coronavirus in the U.S. January 31 COVID-19 pandemic: President Donald Trump imposes travel restrictions preventing foreign nationals from entering the U.S. if they visited China within the previous two weeks. The U.S. Senate votes 51–49 against calling witnesses in President Trump's impeachment trial. Travel ban restricting certain visas, particularly immigration, is expanded to include six new countries: Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sudan, and Tanzania. Tourist visas are still allowed. President Trump signs an executive order creating a new White House position dedicated to addressing Human trafficking in the United States at a White House summit on the issue.
February
February 2 – Super Bowl LIV: The Kansas City Chiefs defeat the San Francisco 49ers, 31–20. Jennifer Lopez and Shakira co-headline the halftime show. February 3 – The 2020 Iowa Democratic and Republican caucuses take place. The Democratic caucus results are delayed due to problems with a vote-counting app.Democrats’ Iowa caucus result delayed after count chaos by Demetri Sevastopulo & Adam Samson, Financial Times, February 5, 2020 February 4 – President Donald Trump delivers his third State of the Union address. Among the guests are Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó and conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, who is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. February 5 – The impeachment trial of President Donald Trump concludes with the Senate voting 52–48 to acquit on the first article of impeachment and 53–47 on the second charge. Utah Senator Mitt Romney becomes the first ever senator to vote to remove a president of their own political party. February 6 – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives permission for Nuro Inc. to deploy up to 5,000 driverless delivery vehicles across the country. It is the first time the NHTSA allows deployment of automated driving systems without meeting all national auto safety standards. February 9 – The 92nd Academy Awards, the second in a row with no official host, are held at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.Oscars 2020: Everything You Need To Know BY ALLYSSIA ALLEYNE, Vogue Britain, December 3, 2019 Bong Joon-ho's Parasite becomes the first South Korean film to receive Academy Award recognition, winning four awards as well as becoming the first non-English-language film to win Best Picture; Joon-ho also wins Best Director. Todd Phillips' Joker leads the nominations with 11, with Joaquin Phoenix winning Best Actor. Renée Zellweger wins Best Actress for Judy, Brad Pitt Best Supporting Actor for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Laura Dern Best Supporting Actress for Marriage Story. The telecast garners over 23.6 million viewers, a 20% decrease from the previous year, at that point the lowest viewership for the ceremony since Nielsen began compiling figures. February 10 – Former Congressman J. C. Watts launches the first all-news channel aimed at African Americans, the Black News Channel. February 11 – The 2020 New Hampshire primaries are held. February 13 – The McClatchy newspaper chain files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. February 17 COVID-19 pandemic: More than 300 Americans are evacuated from the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan, including 14 who have tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus. The national Boy Scouts of America files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, however independently funded local councils are not effected.Boy Scouts of America, hobbled by multiple sex-abuse lawsuits, files for bankruptcy protection NBC News, February 18, 2020 Pier 1 Imports files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and plans to do so in Canada as well.Pier 1 Is Officially For Sale After Filing For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy by Sergei Klebnikov, Forbes, February 17, 2020 February 19 – The Utah Senate votes to decriminalize polygamy. February 20 – Political consultant Roger Stone is sentenced to 40 months in prison after being found guilty of witness tampering, obstructing an official proceeding, and five counts of making false statements. February 21 Wells Fargo agrees to pay a $3 billion fine as a result of the 2016 fake account scandal.Wells Fargo to pay $3 billion over fake account scandal By Pete Williams, NBC News, February 21, 2020 February 22 – The 2020 Nevada Democratic presidential caucuses are held. The Republican caucuses are cancelled with President Trump winning all delegates by default. February 23 – Ahmaud Arbery is murdered in Glynn County, Georgia. No arrests are made until May. February 24 – Former film producer Harvey Weinstein is found guilty of rape. February 25 Amazon opens its first cashierless grocery store, located in Seattle. February 27 COVID-19 pandemic: Growing fear of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic causes the Dow Jones Industrial Average to plunge by 1,190.95 points (4.4%), closing at 25,766.64—its largest one-day points decline in history. This follows several days of large falls, the Dow's worst week since 2008. Marine commandant General David H. Berger orders the removal of Confederate symbols from Marine Corps bases around the world.Marine commandant orders removal of Confederate paraphernalia at bases By Justin Wise, The Hill, February 27, 2020 February 29 The Trump administration and the Taliban sign a conditional peace agreement in Doha, Qatar as part of a process to end the war in Afghanistan.U.S.-Taliban sign landmark agreement in bid to end America's longest war NBC News, February 29, 2020 COVID-19 pandemic: The first death from COVID-19 in the U.S. is reported by officials in Washington state, as the total number of cases nationwide reaches 66. The 2020 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary is held;Sanders congratulates Biden on South Carolina win, shifts focus to Super Tuesday BY JULIA MANCHESTER, The Hill, February 29, 2020 billionaire candidate Tom Steyer suspends his presidential campaign.Steyer drops out of 2020 race The Hill, February 29, 2020
March March 1 – Former South Bend, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg suspends his presidential campaign. March 2 A tornado outbreak strikes four counties around Nashville, Tennessee, killing 26 people.Nashville tornado death toll rises to at least 24; dozens still missing Today (NBC News), March 4, 2020 Tennessee couple describes "flying in the air" during deadly tornado By David Begnaud, CBS NEWS, March 4, 2020 Senator Amy Klobuchar suspends her presidential campaign. MSNBC commentator Chris Matthews announces his retirement.Chris Matthews announces retirement, mutually parts ways with MSNBC By Jason Abbruzzese, NBC News, March 2, 2020 March 3 – Super Tuesday 2020 takes place.Super Tuesday 2020 Election Central, retrieved December 22, 2019 March 3–10 – The 2020 Democrats Abroad presidential primary takes place.The 2020 Global Presidential Primary Results Are In! posted by DA NEWS, DA NEWS EDITOR, 23 March 2020 March 4