The following is a timeline of the second presidency of Donald Trump during the fourth and last quarter of 2025, from October 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025. To navigate between quarters, see timeline of the Donald Trump presidencies.
Timeline October 2025
Date Events Photos/videos WednesdayOctober 1 A government shutdown begins at 12:01 a.m. EDT following the failure of Congress and President Trump to reach a compromise on a spending bill. The Supreme Court rules that Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook is allowed to stay in her position until legal arguments in January 2026. Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought announces the freezing of $18 billion in NYC infrastructure projects. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Vice President JD Vance brief members of the media. Watchdog group Public Citizen files a complaint against the Small Business Administration and Department of Housing and Urban Development for violations of the Hatch Act regarding the shutdown. ThursdayOctober 2 President Trump posts an AI video to Truth Social where Russell Vought is depicted as the grim reaper stating he was "...the reaper. He wields the pen, the funds and the brain." Department of Education workers allege that their out of office messages were forcibly changed to blame Democrats for the shutdown. FridayOctober 3 President Trump announces that Hamas had until October 5 at 6 p.m. EDT to decide on offered ceasefire deal or the group would be quickly extinguished. Hamas says it has agreed to some of the plans proposed by President Trump's 20-point plan to end the war, including the release of hostages and handing over administration of the enclave. The Treasury Department releases draft designs of a $1 coin bearing Trump's likeness to be released for the 250th anniversary of the United States. Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought announces the freezing of $2.1 billion in Chicago infrastructure projects. President Trump posts an AI video to Truth Social showing him throwing a Trump 2028 hat at House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth directs a lethal strike on a narco-trafficking vessel affiliated with designated terrorist organizations. SaturdayOctober 4 SundayOctober 5 A federal judge blocks the deployment of additional National Guard troops to Portland. President Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speak to about 10,000 gathered navy personnel at Naval Station Norfolk as part of the 250th Anniversary Celebration. While speaking on Fox News, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem calls Chicago a "warzone" after a woman was shot by federal agents. MondayOctober 6 The state of Illinois and Chicago, sues the Trump administration over the National Guard being deployed to the city. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett states that it would be the Democrats' fault for any job loss during the shutdown. President Trump and Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Finance Minister Fernando Haddad spoke over the phone. While speaking to CNN News Central White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller claims that President Trump had plenary authority to deploy national guard troops into cities. The Deputy Director of the CIA Michael Ellis replaces the agencies general counsel with himself. TuesdayOctober 7 President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Canadian prime minister Mark Carney at the White House. Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies to Senate Judiciary Committee. Office of Management and Budget announces that furloughed federal workers are not entitled to back pay during the shutdown. WednesdayOctober 8 In a Truth Social post, President Trump calls for the jailing of Illinois officials for "failing to protect ICE officers". President Trump announces that his deal for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas had been reached and that the remaining hostages would be released. President Trump, members of his administration, independent journalists, and online commentators participates in a round table against ANTIFA. The Interior Department cancels the Esmerelda 7 project, which would have developed one of the worlds largest solar power projects. ThursdayOctober 9 President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Finnish president Alexander Stubb and Finnish prime minister Petteri Orpo at the White House. President Trump holds a cabinet meeting. Hamas and Israel sign President Trump's ceasefire deal. New York Attorney General Letitia James is indicted in Virginia by President Trump's Justice Department, as Trump has continued to call for her to be prosecuted. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announces a $20 billion bailout for Argentina which included a currency swap. FridayOctober 10 First Lady Melania Trump announces that 8 children displaced during the Russia-Ukraine war have been reunited with their families following talks with Putin. President Trump announces the second agreement with pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca, to bring American drug prices in line with the lowest paid by other developed nations. A spokes person for the Office of Management and Budget confirms after a post by Director Russell Vought that seven agencies had laid off about 4,000 employees due to the shutdown. President Trump announces on Truth Social that he would impose a 100% tariff on Chinese goods beginning on November 1. SaturdayOctober 11 About 700 employees are reinstated at the Department of Health and Human Services reportedly after they were fired in error. President Trump directs Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to use all available funds to pay the US military during the shutdown in a Truth Social post. The US Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit rules that President Trump cannot deploy the National Guard to Illinois. In a Truth Social post, President Trump displays a rendering of a potential triumphal arch to be built in the capitol opposite the Lincoln Memorial. SundayOctober 12 Vice President Vance indicates that President Trump was seriously considering invoking the Insurrection Act due to reportedly out of control crime in U.S cities. Through a Truth Social post, President Trump alleges that former president Joe Biden had placed FBI agents in the crowd of the January 6th Capitol attack. President Trump announces Dan Scavino as Head of Personnel. MondayOctober 13 President Trump addresses the Israeli Knesset and pledged support to Israel as the Gaza Peace Plan began. President Trump attends the Gaza peace summit. Andrew Giuliani director of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Task Force announces a drone security system for the 2028 Olympics and the 250th anniversary of the US. TuesdayOctober 14 President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Argentine president Javier Milei at the White House. President Trump posthumously awards Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issues new rules for press outlets and demanded that the outlets pledge to agree or turn in their press badges. Per the new policy, outlets could not use or obtain any unauthorized material even if it was unclassified. Former national security adviser John Bolton is indicted by a federal grand jury, and is the third critic of President Trump facing criminal charges in a few weeks. WednesdayOctober 15 After the issuing of new press rules from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, all press outlets, excluding OANN, reject to agree to the new rules and turned in their press badges. Vice President Vance responds to concerns about the young Republican group chat leaks stating that it was "what kids do" and that he did not want to ruin lives over it. A federal judge issues a restraining order against the Trump administration to stop them from firing workers during the ongoing shutdown. ThursdayOctober 16 President Trump speaks with Russian president Vladimir Putin over the phone. US Chamber of Commerce sues the Trump administration over new fee added to H-1B worker visas, as the fee infringes on the Immigration and Nationality Act. At least three labor unions sues the Trump administration in connection with the searching of VISA holders social media. FridayOctober 17 President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House. In an agreement between the US Department of Education and the American Federation of Teachers union, it is announced that loan forgiveness for eligible borrowers would be offered. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announces a US strike on an alleged drug-carrying vessel, killing three people. SaturdayOctober 18 Approximately 2,700 No Kings protests draw nearly 7 million attendees demonstrating against Trump administration. The estimated numbers make this one of the largest single-day protests in American history. In response to the protests, President Trump posts an AI video of him in a fighter jet dropping fecal matter on protestors. Vice President Vance delivers remarks at the 250th Anniversary for the United States Marine Corps in Camp Pendleton, CA. During the ceremony, live ammunition was fired and exploded over Interstate-5 with shrapnel hitting police vehicles. SundayOctober 19 President Trump announces that the United States will decrease aid to Colombia and enact tariffs if it does not stop drug production. MondayOctober 20 President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese at the White House, resulting in a critical minerals deal between the two countries. Demolition of the East Wing's facade begins to make room for the White House State Ballroom. The US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit rules that President Trump is able to deploy the National Guard to Portland. TuesdayOctober 21 Vice President Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance visit Israel in effort to strengthen the Gaza Peace Plan and ceasefire. Paul Ingrassia, withdraws from consideration to lead the Office of Special Counsel after offensive text messages are made public. Ingrassia has been nominated by President Trump. The state of Arizona sues Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to force him to swear in Reprentative-elect Adelita Grijalva. Grijalva had been elected on September 23, and has yet to be sworn in. President Trump is questioned in the Oval Office about his attempt to receive $230 million in damages from the Justice Department over investigations into his 2016 campaign ties with Russia and the 2022 search of Mar-a-Largo for classified documents. WednesdayOctober 22 President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with NATO secretary general Mark Rutte at the White House. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announces a strike on a suspected drug smuggling vessel in the Pacific Ocean, killing three people. Sanctions against two major Russian oil companies are announced by the US Treasury and the European Union. Author Michael Wolfe sues First Lady Melania Trump alleging she threatened him with legal action in an effort to stop him from writing about her alleged ties with Jeffrey Epstein. ThursdayOctober 23 President Trump announces that he would not move forward with deploying federal troops to San Francisco. FridayOctober 24 Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem holds a press conference to discuss ICE operations in the Twin Cities. SaturdayOctober 25 President Trump posts on Truth Social that Canada used AI for a television ad that used audio from a 1987 address of President Ronald Reagan denouncing tariffs. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute later recommended everyone to watch the full unedited address on the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library YouTube account. Vice President Vance visits the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.