The tumultuous presidency of Donald J. Trump began with his surreal Inauguration Day speech, which cast a dark view of America and seemingly set the tone for his administration.
“For too many of our citizens, a different reality exists: Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities; rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation,” Trump said in January.
“Crime and gangs and drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential. This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.”
READ MORE: Trump officials who quit (or got fired) in 2017
It was shortly afterwards — when the Trump was challenged over his claims on the size of the crowd — that the controversies began, and would continue on a near-daily basis for the remainder of the year.
Whether it was the Russia investigation, his relentless tweeting, his response to several hurricanes, actions on the world stage, response to tragedies at home and around the world, Trump never failed to make headlines.
And for most of the year, Trump failed to deliver any significant pieces of legislation until the Republican-controlled Congress approved his massive tax bill towards the end of the year.
With 2017 coming to a close, here’s a look back at nine stories from U.S. President Donald Trump’s first year in office.
Trump-Russia investigation
Trump’s presidency has been dogged by the question of whether there was coordination between Russia and his election campaign to fix the 2016 election.
Trump fired FBI director James Comey — immediately setting off questions about justice — before former FBI chief Robert Mueller was brought on to lead the investigation.
READ MORE: A who’s who from the Trump camp in wake of Mueller’s 1st charges
Throughout the year, there have been congressional hearings, questions about impeachment and calls for resignation over the Trump-Russia question.
Now in the last two months, four members of Trump’s team — Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn, Rick Gates and George Papadopoulos — have either been indicted or pleaded guilty to criminal charges.
Tax bill passed
After struggling to deliver a major legislative win, Republicans in Congress pushed through a sweeping $1.5 trillion tax overhaul, the biggest change in 30 years.
The complicated bill will cut taxes for corporations and wealthy individuals dramatically, with much smaller cuts for middle-income and low-income people, and a possible tax increase in 10 years for the average American.
READ MORE: Will the Trump tax cuts hurt Canada’s competitiveness?
Trump and GOP lawmakers have said the bill would have broad benefits by accelerating economic growth and increasing jobs. Democrats and critics have called the bill a “scam” and “heist” which would lead to greater income inequality, larger deficits and the loss of health-care coverage for millions of Americans.
Failure to repeal Obamacare
They promised it during the campaign. Republicans repeatedly tried. But despite controlling both houses of Congress, the GOP failed to repeal Barack Obama’s health care law and replace it with a new plan.
But questions remained as to how 2010 Affordable Care Act could survive going forward without help from the Trump administration, following a passage of the GOP tax plan that strips away the law’s “individual mandate” to get insurance or else pay a tax penalty
Trump tweets
Whether it’s ALL CAPS, infamous typos, or his signature use of the term “Sad!” the U.S. president is all about Twitter.
“My use of social media is not Presidential – it’s MODERN DAY PRESIDENTIAL,” Trump’s account tweeted on July 1. “Make America Great Again!”
READ MORE: Here’s how the president’s tweets can affect the legal system
Some of his most widely shared tweets included a video of Trump wrestling with a man whose head is covered by the CNN logo, his name-calling of North Korean dictator Kim Jon Un, tweets attacking NFL players and an NBA player’s father, or his calling for the death penalty of a terror suspect.
“Despite the constant negative press covfefe,” became an internet sensation and one of Trump’s most popular tweets in 2017.
Trump vs. Kim Jong Un
North Korea’s series of missile tests over the last year has put the world on edge with the range of the rockets steadily expanding, reportedly now able to reach the U.S. mainland.
In the face of what became the North Korean nuclear crisis, was a flurry of statements that have ranged from name-calling (“little rocket man”) – to threatening to “totally destroy” a country that is home to roughly 25 million people.
READ MORE: Donald Trump says his ‘fire and fury’ comments may not have been tough enough
“The U.S. has great strength and patience,” Trump said during a UN speech in September. “If it is forced to defend ourselves or our allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.”
-
![]()
‘He is a sick puppy’: Trump references ‘Little Rocket Man’ Kim Jong-Un -
![]()
Trump tells Kim Jong Un he will regret threats made against U.S. -
![]()
‘Rocket Man’ may be smart, strategic and totally crazy: Trump -
![]()
Trump tweets threats against North Korea after U.N. speech -
![]()
Trump to Tillerson: Don’t waste time talking to N. Korea -
![]()
Trump gives Kim Jong-Un ‘credit’ for brutal takeover after his father died
On Dec. 22, the UN Security Council unanimously imposed fresh sanctions on North Korea following its latest intercontinental ballistic missile test.
Charlottesville
Following deadly violence in Virginia by white supremacists, Trump denounced the incident before offering his infamous statement equivocating neo-Nazis and anti-racist protesters.
Then he told us what he really thought. In a wild, unplanned exchange with reporters in the lobby of Trump Tower, the president became increasingly defensive.
- Four injured after military horses break loose, stampede in London, U.K.
- Canada refused to repatriate woman from ISIS camp because she can’t be arrested: internal memo
- Russia vetoes UN resolution to prevent nuclear arms race in space
- Spain’s PM considers resigning amid wife’s legal probe: ‘Is it all worth it?’
WATCH: Donald Trump full news conference on Charlottesville response
“I’ve condemned neo-Nazis. I’ve condemned many different groups. But not all of those people were neo-Nazis, believe me,” he said. “You also had some very fine people on both sides.”
Republicans and Democrats alike quickly denounced the president’s response — as did much of America.
Trump’s words, however, were praised by former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.
Women’s March
Despite winning the 2016 election, Trump took office facing allegations of sexual misconduct from more than a dozen women. He was also caught boasting on a now-infamous tape: “I don’t even wait. When you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab ’em by the pussy.”
READ MORE: Donald Trump accused of ‘slut-shaming’ after tweet attacking Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
All of this fueled a year that started with the Women’s March.
READ MORE: Canadians return from Women’s March on Washington tired but uplifted
What began in January with millions of women in cities across the U.S. protesting the Trump administration ended with scores of women coming forward to accuse powerful men in politics, media and the entertainment industry of acts of sexual violence and misconduct.
The #MeToo movement even beat out Trump as Time magazine’s Person of the Year.
Comments