The following is a timeline of the second presidency of Donald Trump during the first quarter of 2026, from January 1, 2026, to March 31, 2026. To navigate between quarters, see timeline of the Donald Trump presidencies. For the Q2 timeline see timeline of the second Trump presidency (2026 Q2).
Timeline January 2026 Date Events Photos/videos ThursdayJanuary 1 FridayJanuary 2 President Trump signs an executive order saying that if Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, the United States of America will come to their rescue.Institute for the Study of War: Iran Update, January 2, 2026 SaturdayJanuary 3 President Trump orders airstrikes in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, and the Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the First Lady Cilia Flores are captured by American forces. SundayJanuary 4 Trump reposts a false claim about the assassination of Minnesota Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman. President Trump warns that Colombia President Gustavo Petro could face US action and appeared to make similar comments about Cuba. MondayJanuary 5 A person is arrested on trespassing and vandalism charges, after attempting to damage Vice President Vance's home in Ohio. The HHS (US Department of Health and Human Services) announces a reduction of vaccines recommended for every child in an overhaul of the childhood vaccine schedule, no longer recommending vaccines for RSV, hepatitis, rotavirus, dengue, covid-19, influenza, and meningococcal disease for all children. TuesdayJanuary 6 President Trump ally Lindsey Halligan is ordered by a federal judge to explain her continued use of the title of the US Attorney General for the Eastern District of Virginia. The Trump administration announces the pause in federal child care and family assistance funds to five Democratic states; California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reaffirms President Trump's desire to acquire Greenland stating that it was a vital national security priority for the US. The White House launches a website praising President Trump for his handling of the January 6 attack, blaming Democratic lawmakers for altering the narrative, and commending the pardoning of participants. The website's accounting of events contains "blatant falsehoods" according to the New York Times. WednesdayJanuary 7 The US military seizes an oil tanker, that had been sanctioned in 2024, off the coast of Iceland. Minneapolis woman Renée Good is killed when an ICE agent shot her in the face. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announce new federal dietary guidelines. President Trump announces that the United States 'shall withdraw' from the IPCC and 65 other international institutions. President Trump requests reimbursement in more than $6 million in legal fees connected to the Georgia case about potentially interfering in 2020 presidential election. ThursdayJanuary 8 The US Senate advances a bipartisan resolution to block President Trump from using military force within or against Venezuela without prior approval from Congress. When asked by the New York Times if any limits existed on his global powers, Trump replies "Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me." Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem orders new restrictions on congressional visits to immigration detention facilities, forcing them to seek a weeks advance of prior notice before conducting oversight visits. Avelo Airlines cancels its contract with ICE, citing high costs and not enough benefits amid a political backlash. FridayJanuary 9 Prosecutors in the DOJ’s civil rights division are told by leadership that they will not be investigating the killing of Reneé Good, even though it is customary for the division to take the lead in high-profile cases. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announces the suspension of federal benefit program funding to Minnesota over alleged fraud allegations. A federal judge temporarily halts the Trump administration's plans to block federal child care and family assistance funds to five Democratic states. SaturdayJanuary 10 Representatives Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig and Kelly Morrision are denied entry to the Whipple federal building in Minneapolis, after updated restrictions by Homeland Security secretary Noem. SundayJanuary 11 The New York Times reports that in November of 2025, the U.S. attorney’s office in the DC opened a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. MondayJanuary 12 Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announces the integration of Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok into Pentagon networks. Anthony Tata, the Pentagon's undersecretary for personnel and readiness issues a letter in response to queries from a coalition of lawmakers. The letter clarified that the military condemned any hazing or bullying, which appear to be counter to what DOD secretary Pete Hegseth had said earlier in September 2025. Two aides in Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer were placed on administrative leave after the Labor Department inspector general initiated an investigation over claims of inappropriate relationship between Chavez-DeRemer and a staffer and travel fraud by Chavez-DeRemer. TuesdayJanuary 13 Six federal prosecutors in DOJ's Civil Rights Division resigned due to lack of action following the killing of Renée Good. Six more prosecutors resigned in Minnesota after instructions were given to investigate Good's widow instead of the shooter. The Department of Health and Human Services announces large cuts to mental health and addiction programs. After widespread backlash the grant funding was restored the next day. President Trump tours a Ford manufacturing plant in Dearborn, Michigan and spoke at Motorcity Casino in Detroit to promote US manufacturing and the US job market. While touring the factory President Trump was filmed cursing at and flipping off a worker who had referenced prior sexual assault allegations against Trump. In a televised interview, President Trump threatens Iranian authorities with retaliatory action by the US military if they execute anti-government protestors. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announces the end of Temporary Protected Status for Somali nationals. Those with TPS will be ordered to leave the US by March 17 per DHS. Senator Mark Kelly announces his lawsuit against DOD secretary Pete Hegseth, claiming that the Pentagon attempted to illegally demote him in retaliation of comments made by Kelly about the Trump administration. Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton entered a sworn declaration to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee denying any knowledge of the criminal activities of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, and did not recall ever meeting Epstein. WednesdayJanuary 14 A DHS spokesperson announces that ICE had shot and injured a man in Minneapolis, later identified as Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis. Democratic Representative Robin Kelly fills articles of impeachment against DHS secretary Kristi Noem, following the killing of Renée Good. The State Department announces the suspension of immigrant VISA processing for 75 countries including Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt and Somalia. The House Oversight Committee announces intent to hold former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress after their failure to appear for a scheduled deposition about Jeffrey Epstein. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenland's Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Motzfeldt attend a closed door meeting with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. ThursdayJanuary 15 President Trump threatens using the Insurrection Act on Truth Social in response to ongoing protest in Minneapolis after the killing of Renée Good by ICE. Vice President Vance breaks a voting tie to block a Senate bill aiming to curb President Trump's military action in Venezuela. The US Coast Guard seized a sixth sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, the tanker reportedly had ties to Venezuela. Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presents her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Trump during their private meeting at the White House. The Nobel committee clarifies that the honor the prize represents “cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others”. FridayJanuary 16 A security officer assigned to Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer was placed on leave after allegations of the two engaging in a romantic relationship. Chavez-DeRemer is married. SaturdayJanuary 17 Trump threatens a 25% tariff on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland, unless he is allowed to purchase Greenland. Hands off Greenland protests occurs in cities across Greenland and Denmark, in response to Trump's continued threats to annex Greenland. SundayJanuary 18 In a text exchange with the prime minister of Norway, Trump writes that because Norway "decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize", he now no longer feels "an obligation to think purely of Peace." Opposition leaders called the text exchange "unhinged and embarrassing" and questioned his fitness for office. MondayJanuary 19 Following widespread criticism that the administration had not issued a proclamation recognizing the annual Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the White House issues one late on Monday evening. The statement was not shared on either the White House or the president's social media and makes no mention of racial justice or African Americans. TuesdayJanuary 20 US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained Liam Conejo Ramos, a 5-year-old child with an active immigration case in Columbia Heights in Minneapolis, causing widespread public and political outrage. WednesdayJanuary 21 President Trump arrives in Davos, Switzerland to attend the 2026 Davos World Economic Forum (WEF).whitehouse.gov Trump spoke in favor of 'negotiations on the acquisition of Greenland' proposed by himself, but ruled out the use of military force. His speech was harsh in criticising NATO and Europe.full speech (96 min)Trump schließt Einsatz von Gewalt in Grönland aus (21 January 2026) During his trip in Davos, Trump mistakenly refers to "Greenland" as "Iceland" nearly a half dozen times. The Department of Education pulled back from its prior attempts to enforce a sweeping anti-DEI Dear Colleague letter that had been issued in early 2025. The letter had referenced the Supreme Court case of Students for Fair Admissions v Harvard. ThursdayJanuary 22 The United States officially withdraws from the World Health Organization. citing the organization's actions during the COVID-19 pandemic and saying the organization unfairly criticized Trump in the pandemic's early days. In an interview from Davos, Trump falsely claims that NATO troops in the war of Afghanistan avoided frontline combat. His remarks draw widespread condemnation among NATO leaders. The National Park Service dismantles exhibits about slavery at the President’s House Site in Independence National Historical Park, immediately provoking a lawsuit from the city of Philadelphia. Vice President Vance delivers remarks in Toledo, Ohio, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. An AI image is posted by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to social media, showing himself and "Coalie" a lump of coal with mining garb and giant eyes to promote Trump's American Energy Dominance Agenda. FridayJanuary 23 In Minneapolis-St. Paul, thousands of protesters demonstrate in sub-zero temperatures and hundreds of businesses close in a general strike in opposition of immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota. President Trump withdraws 'Board of Peace' invitation for Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Carney had previously given a highly acclaimed speech at the WEF in Davos.bbc.com: Trump withdraws Canada's invitation to Board of Peace 23 January 2026