Donald Trump administration

Donald Trump administration
Predecessor	Barack Obama administration
Successor	Joe Biden administration
Cabinet	See Cabinet of Donald Trump
Party	Republican
Election	2016
Seat	White House

Donald Trump administration. The presidency of Donald Trump began on January 20, 2017, following his victory in the 2016 United States presidential election over Hillary Clinton. His tenure was characterized by a populist "America First" agenda, significant tax cuts, deregulation, and contentious relations with the media and political opponents. The administration concluded on January 20, 2021, after Trump lost the 2020 United States presidential election to Joe Biden.

Presidency of Donald Trump

The Presidency of Donald Trump was inaugurated on January 20, 2017, with a ceremony at the United States Capitol. His first major act was the signing of Executive Order 13769, which instituted a controversial travel ban targeting several Muslim-majority countries. The administration's political strategy was heavily shaped by senior advisors like Stephen Miller and communications handled by figures such as Sean Spicer and later Kayleigh McEnany. Key legislative successes were achieved during the first two years when the Republican Party controlled both the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives.

Major legislation and policies

The administration's signature legislative achievement was the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, a major overhaul of the U.S. tax code. In line with a deregulatory agenda, Trump signed an executive order to advance the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipeline projects and withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement. Other significant policies included the imposition of tariffs on goods from China and allies, leading to trade disputes, and the First Step Act, a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill. The administration also pursued a hardline immigration policy, which included the policy of family separations at the Mexico–United States border.

Cabinet and key appointments

Trump's Cabinet of Donald Trump included several long-tenured officials and frequent turnover. Key initial appointments included Rex Tillerson as United States Secretary of State, James Mattis as United States Secretary of Defense, and Jeff Sessions as United States Attorney General. Significant turnover saw Mike Pompeo replace Tillerson and William Barr later succeed Sessions. Other notable figures included Steven Mnuchin at the United States Department of the Treasury, Betsy DeVos at the United States Department of Education, and Mike Pence as Vice President of the United States. The White House Chief of Staff position rotated among Reince Priebus, John F. Kelly, and Mark Meadows.

Foreign policy

The administration's foreign policy, often labeled as transactional, emphasized bilateral deals over multilateral alliances. It pursued a pressure campaign against North Korea, leading to summits between Trump and Kim Jong-un in Singapore and Vietnam. The administration brokered the Abraham Accords, normalizing relations between Israel and several Arab states. It took a confrontational stance toward Iran, withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and ordering the 2020 Baghdad International Airport airstrike that killed Qasem Soleimani. Relations with traditional allies in NATO and the European Union were often strained, while ties with Russia remained a subject of intense scrutiny.

Controversies and investigations

The administration was marked by numerous controversies and investigations. The special counsel investigation led by Robert Mueller examined Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections and possible obstruction of justice, resulting in several indictments of Trump associates. Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives in December 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress regarding his dealings with Ukraine, but was acquitted by the Senate. A second impeachment followed the January 6 United States Capitol attack, where he was charged with incitement of insurrection. Throughout his term, Trump frequently criticized institutions like the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the news media, labeling critical reporting "fake news."

2020 presidential election and post-presidency

Trump lost the 2020 United States presidential election to Joe Biden. He and his allies made widespread claims of election fraud and filed numerous unsuccessful lawsuits in states like Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Arizona. These efforts culminated in the January 6 United States Capitol attack by a mob of his supporters seeking to disrupt the Electoral College vote certification. After leaving office, Trump remained a dominant force in the Republican Party. In 2023, he was indicted on multiple felony counts by state and federal prosecutors, including cases in New York and Florida, related to his business practices and handling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

Category:Donald Trump administration Category:2010s in the United States Category:2020s in the United States