The following is a timeline of the first presidency of Donald Trump during the third quarter of 2020, from July 1 to September 30, 2020. For a complete itinerary of his travels, see List of presidential trips made by Donald Trump (2020–21). To navigate quarters, see timeline of the Donald Trump presidencies. For the Q4 timeline see timeline of the first Trump presidency (2020 Q4–January 2021).
Timeline Overview
President Trump campaigned for the ongoing presidential primaries, accepted the nomination at the Republican National Convention, faced the ongoing presidential election, participated in the first presidential debates, and tackled the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic by extending the nationwide Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines throughout the month of July.
July 2020 Date Events Photos/videos Wednesday, July 1 The United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) comes into effect, replacing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). President Trump had campaigned on replacing NAFTA with a new trade agreement. The number of deaths in the United States attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 disease is 127,461. There are more than 2.7 million certified COVID-19 cases. Thursday, July 2 President Trump launches "Made in America Week" at the White House by showcasing products made in all fifty states. Friday, July 3 President Trump hosts military personnel and their families for a picnic and fireworks show at Mount Rushmore as part of Independence Day celebrations. Saturday, July 4 President Trump's 2020 Salute to America occurs on Independence Day in Washington, D.C., in addition to other events. Sunday, July 5 Monday, July 6 Tuesday, July 7 President Trump informs Congress and the United Nations that the United States will formally withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), effective July 6, 2021. Wednesday, July 8 President Trump holds a bilateral meeting and joint press conference with Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador at the White House to discuss the new United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement. The number of deaths in the United States attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 disease is 131,289. There are more than 3.0 million certified COVID-19 cases. Thursday, July 9 The Supreme Court rules 7-2 that House Democrats may not access President Trump's tax returns, but also determined that he is not immune to a subpoena for his returns from a New York prosecutor. Friday, July 10 As Tropical Storm Fay approaches, President Trump cancels Saturday plans for a campaign rally in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. President Trump commutes the sentence of Roger Stone, who was convicted of witness tampering and lying to Congress about President Trump's dealings with Russia to the Mueller probe. Saturday, July 11 Sunday, July 12 Monday, July 13 President Trump conducts a White House panel composed of "people who have had positive interactions with the police". Tuesday, July 14 President Trump gathers reporters and press for a news conference in the Rose Garden at the White House. The Trump administration orders hospitals to forego sending all COVID-19 patient information to the CDC and instead submit it to a central database maintained by the Department of Health and Human Services. President Trump signs the Hong Kong Autonomy Act into law, placing sanctions on organizations that undermine Hong Kong's autonomy. President Trump announces new measures against China during a 54-minute stream-of-consciousness press conference promising a vaccine for the COVID-19, blaming China for "unleashing [the COVID-19] upon the world" and various other topics from Joe Biden to crime in "Democrat cities". Wednesday, July 15 The number of deaths in the United States attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 disease is 136,356. There are more than 3.4 million certified COVID-19 cases. Thursday, July 16The Trump administration announces that hospitals will begin to send COVID-19 patient information to a central database maintained by the Department of Health and Human Services rather than the CDC. Friday, July 17 Saturday, July 18 Sunday, July 19 Monday, July 20 Tuesday, July 21 President Trump signs a presidential memorandum requesting a ban of undocumented immigrants being counted in the 2020 census. President Trump announces plans to deploy federal law enforcement officers to “Democrat” cities to quell ongoing protests over racism and police brutality. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot expressed concern saying, "We don’t need federal agents without any insignia taking people off the streets and holding them, I think, unlawfully." Wednesday, July 22 Calling the protests in Portland, Oregon “worse than Afghanistan,” President Trump defended the use of excessive force against the peaceful protestors by officers in military camouflage fatigues. The number of deaths in the United States attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 disease is 142,031. There are more than 3.9 million certified COVID-19 cases. Thursday, July 23 Friday, July 24 President Trump signs four executive orders designed to lower prices on prescription drugs. Saturday, July 25 Sunday, July 26 Monday, July 27 National security advisor Robert O'Brien tests positive for COVID-19. He has since been working remotely. Tuesday, July 28 Without any evidence that mail-in ballots increase electoral fraud, President Trump continues to suggest that the November election should be delayed. Wednesday, July 29 The number of deaths in the United States attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 disease is 150,100. There are more than 4.3 million certified COVID-19 cases. Thursday, July 30 The U.S. GDP indicator declined 9.5% during the second quarter of 2020, the most drastic decline in 70 years. President Trump suggests postponing the 2020 United States presidential election. Friday, July 31 President Trump says he plans to use presidential authority to terminate the Chinese social media platform TikTok from operating in the U.S.
August 2020
Date Events Photos/videos Saturday, August 1 Sunday, August 2 Monday, August 3 Tuesday, August 4 The House of Representatives Oversight Committee calls Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to testify about recent delays and staff changes at the U.S. Postal Service. Wednesday, August 5 President Trump meets with Governor of Arizona Doug Ducey in the Oval Office. The number of deaths in the United States attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 disease is 157,297. There are more than 4.7 million certified COVID-19 cases. Stephen Akard, the acting State Department's inspector general, resigns after less than three months. His deputy, Diana Shaw is appointed as the temporary acting inspector general effective on August 7. Thursday, August 6 President Trump signs executive orders banning the use of TikTok and WeChat in the United States within 45 days if their Chinese parent companies refuse to sell them as a result of national security concerns. President Trump tours Whirlpool Corporation. Friday, August 7 Saturday, August 8 President Trump signs an executive order and memoranda restoring COVID-19 relief pay for unemployed Americans at $400 per week. Sunday, August 9 Monday, August 10 Tuesday, August 11 Wednesday, August 12 The number of deaths in the United States attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 disease is 164,462. There are more than 5.1 million certified COVID-19 cases. Thursday, August 13 The Trump Administration brokers a peace agreement between United Arab Emirates and Israel, the first agreement between Israel and an Arab-Muslim nation. Friday, August 14 During a White House press conference, President Trump mentions the Kevin Clinesmith plea agreement, in which a former FBI lawyer admitted to altering an email for the C.I.A. used by the agency to continue a secret wiretap on the former Trump 2016 campaign adviser Carter Page. Trump claims Clinesmith was "corrupt" and the plea deal was "just the beginning". Saturday, August 15 Sunday, August 16 Monday, August 17 President Trump holds a campaign rally in Mankato, Minnesota. President Trump holds a campaign rally in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Tuesday, August 18 President Trump visits Yuma, Arizona, along the southern border and meets with Border Patrol personnel. President Trump holds a campaign rally in Yuma, Arizona. Wednesday, August 19 The number of deaths in the United States attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 disease is 172,958. There are more than 5.5 million certified COVID-19 cases. Thursday, August 20 President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Iraqi prime minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi at the White House. President Trump holds a campaign rally in Old Forge, Pennsylvania. Friday, August 21 Saturday, August 22 Sunday, August 23 Monday, August 24 The four-day Republican National Convention begins. President Trump accepts the nomination of the Republican Party for the 2020 United States presidential election. Tuesday, August 25 President Trump and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy are sued by the states of New York and New Jersey over changes to postal service operations such as the removal of mailboxes and mail sorting machines, the curtailing of overtime hours and the implementation of additional service reductions. Wednesday, August 26 The number of deaths in the United States attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 disease is 179,215. There are more than 5.8 million certified COVID-19 cases. Thursday, August 27 President Trump delivers acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention at the South Lawn of the White House. Saying he “profoundly” accepted the nomination for a second term he spoke for 70-minutes on the South Lawn of the White House. He repeatedly misrepresented his record while leveling false or misleading attacks on Democrats, blaming them for America's problems. The House Foreign Affairs Committee proceeds with contempt proceedings and a subpoena against Mike Pompeo related to the State Department's involvement in attempts to link Joe Biden to corruption in Ukraine. Friday, August 28 President Trump holds a campaign rally in Londonderry, New Hampshire. Four people who attended the Republican National Convention (which had just ended) test positive for COVID-19. Saturday, August 29 President Trump visits areas affected by Hurricane Laura. Sunday, August 30 Monday, August 31 John Ratcliffe, the Director of National Intelligence, says his agency will no longer give Congress in-person briefings about election security, citing concern over "unauthorized disclosures of sensitive information" and will switch to written updates.
September 2020
Date Events Photos/videos Tuesday, September 1 While discussing the shooting of Jacob Blake, President Trump compares police officers to golfers who might “choke” while attempting a putt. Wednesday, September 2 President Trump participates in the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II celebrations at the battleship North Carolina in Wilmington, North Carolina, and designates the city as the first "American World War II Heritage City", which the secretary of the interior is allowed to designate one city a year beginning in 2020. The number of deaths in the United States attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 disease is 184,564. There are more than 6 million certified COVID-19 cases. President Trump urges North Carolina voters to cast two votes in the upcoming presidential election, once by mail and then again in person, in order to test his unsubstantiated claims that mail-in voting is prone to fraud. Thursday, September 3 President Trump holds a campaign rally in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Friday, September 4 President Trump participates in the signing ceremony of the economic normalization agreements with Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić and Kosovan prime minister Avdullah Hoti at the White House. A memo to government agencies from the Office of Management and Budget calls on all agencies to ceases funding for diversity training. labelling it "divisive and anti-American propaganda".