Trump's First 100 Days (Updated Daily)

Prior to entering the White House, Donald Trump pledged an energetic “100-day action plan to Make America Great Again.” How much will he be able to accomplish, and how will his accomplishments compare to his promises? To shed light on these questions, we survey President Trump’s executive orders and other actions as president in the following chronology, updated daily.

President Trump to the acting attorney general: You’re fired! President Trump fired Acting Attorney General Sally Yates tonight, after she had earlier in the day ordered Justice Department lawyers not to defend challenges to the president’s executive order temporarily banning foreign nationals from seven countries from entering the United States and suspending the refugee program. For more information, click here.

Reducing regulation: President Trump signed an executive order on “Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs,” which states that “it is the policy of the executive branch to be prudent and financially responsible in the expenditure of funds, from both public and private sources,” and that “for every one new regulation issued, at least two prior regulations be identified for elimination.” The order also states that for fiscal year 2017, “the total incremental cost of all new regulations, including repealed regulations, to be finalized this year shall be no greater than zero, unless otherwise required by law or consistent with advice provided in writing by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.” For more information, click here.

U.S. soldier killed in Yemen: The White House released a statement by President Trump on a U.S. service member killed in Yemen. “The sacrifices made by the men and women of our armed forces, and the families they leave behind, are the backbone of the liberty we hold so dear as Americans, united in our pursuit of a safer nation and a freer world. My deepest thoughts and humblest prayers are with the family of this fallen service member,” Trump said in his statement. “I also pray for a quick and complete recovery for the brave service members who sustained injuries.” But the tragic death of a U.S. soldier in Yemen raises important questions: Should the U.S. military have boots on the ground there? Should we be engaged in a war in Yemen without the constitutionally required declaration of war — and without even a congressional debate? Should a single person decide when to plunge the nation into the crucible of war, regardless if he is President Obama or President Trump? Does our military interventionism in Yemen (and elsewhere in the Middle East) reduce the terrorist threat and make America safer, or does it have the opposite effects? And is the interventionism worth the sacrifice — including the ultimate sacrifice — of our soldiers?

Defeating ISIS: President Trump signed a memorandum stating that “it is the policy of the United States that ISIS be defeated.” To achieve this end, the memorandum orders the secretary of defense to develop a comprehensive plan in collaboration with other administration officials, and to submit a preliminary draft of the plan to the president within 30 days. The memorandum warns that “ISIS has engaged in a systematic campaign of persecution and extermination in those territories it enters or controls,” and that, if “left in power, the threat that it poses will only grow.” The memorandum does not comment, however, on how ISIS became a threat to begin with. For information regarding the role that U.S. foreign policy played in the rise of ISIS, see here and here.

• Lobbying ban on political appointees: President Trump signed an executive order banning the administration’s appointees in “every executive agency” from being able to “engage in lobbying activities with respect to that agency” for five years after the termination of employment.

• Suspending refugee program and entry of nationals from seven countries: President Trump signed an executive order to suspend for at least 90 days the entry of foreign nationals into the United States from seven “countries of particular concern”: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. (In the case of Syria, the suspension is indefinite.) The order also suspends the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) for 120 days. In the "Purpose" section of his order, Trump explained: “Numerous foreign-born individuals have been convicted or implicated in terrorism-related crimes since September 11, 2001, including foreign nationals who entered the United States after receiving visitor, student, or employment visas, or who entered through the United States refugee resettlement program. Deteriorating conditions in certain countries due to war, strife, disaster, and civil unrest increase the likelihood that terrorists will use any means possible to enter the United States.” He also stated: “In order to protect Americans, the United States must ensure that those admitted to this country do not bear hostile attitudes toward it and its founding principles. The United States cannot, and should not, admit those who do not support the Constitution, or those who would place violent ideologies over American law.” For more information, click here.

• March for Life: On the day of the March for Life in Washington, D.C., President Trump tweeted: “The #MarchForLife is so important. To all of you marching --- you have my full support!” Vice President Pence appeared at the pro-life event on behalf of the Trump administration. “More than two-hundred and forty years ago, our Founders wrote words that have echoed through the ages," Pence told the massive crowd. “They declared ‘these truths to be self-evident.’ That we are, all of us, ‘endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights,’ and ‘that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.’” He continued: “Forty-four years ago, our Supreme Court turned away from the first of these timeless ideals," in reference to the January 22, 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. For more information about this year’s March for Life, click here.

• U.S.-Mexico relations: President Trump and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto spoke by phone “for an hour” this morning and had “a productive and constructive call," according to a “Joint Statement on U.S.-Mexico Relations” posted at WhiteHouse.gov. “With respect to payment for the border wall,” the statement said, “both presidents recognize their clear and very public differences of positions on this issue but have agreed to work these differences out as part of a comprehensive discussion on all aspects of the bilateral relationship.” The previous day, Nieto had cancelled a face-to-face meeting he was to have with Trump, but after the hour-long phone conversation — originally scheduled for just 10 minutes — the White House said it would reschedule a face-to-face meeting “in the near future.” For more information, click here.

• U.S. British relations: President Trump hosted his first foreign head of state at the White House, British Prime Minister Theresa May. “Together, America and the United Kingdom are a beacon for prosperity and the rule of law,” Trump said in his opening remarks. “That is why the United States respects the sovereignty of the British people and their right of self-determination.”

• National School Choice Week: The White House website announced today that President Trump had released a proclamation the day before declaring “January 22 through January 28, 2017, as National School Choice Week.” In the proclamation, he states: “ I encourage parents to evaluate the educational opportunities available for their children. I also encourage State lawmakers and Federal lawmakers to expand school choice for millions of additional students,” by which he presumably means allocating more taxpayer dollars to private, religious, and charter schools. For more information, click here.

• Bradley Manning: President Trump called Bradley Manning (who now goes by the name "Chelsea") a "traitor" in a tweet today: “Ungrateful TRAITOR Chelsea Manning, who should never have been released from prison, is now calling President Obama a weak leader. Terrible!” For more information about Manning and the commutation of his sentence by President Obama, click here.

• Building the border wall and ending "catch and release": President Trump signed an executive order to “immediately plan, design, and construct a physical wall along the southern border” of the United States. Building this barrier was one of Trump’s signature campaign promises, and today White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said that it is “more than just a campaign promise, it’s common sense, the first step to really securing our porous border.” The order also directed the termination of the “catch and release” policy practiced by the Obama administration. Under that policy, illegal border crossers were released instead of being detained, and ordered to appear before an immigration court at a future date. But many failed to show up for the hearings.For more information, click here.

• Sanctuary cities: Trump signed an executive order (separate from the one described above) to strip federal grants from “sanctuary” cities and states that do not enforce federal immigration laws. “We’re going to strip federal grant money from the sanctuary states and cities that harbor illegal immigrants,” White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said. For more information, click here.

• Reviving the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipeline projects: President Trump signed three executive actions reviving action on the Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipeline construction projects aborted by former President Obama. Trump said he wants to seek a “better deal” on the Keystone XL Pipeline and asked TransCanada Corporation to resubmit its application for permission to complete the project. He added, “If we’re going to build pipelines in the United States, the pipes should be made in the United States.” Approvals of both projects are “subject to terms and conditions to be negotiated by us.” For more information, click here.

• High-priority infrastructure projects: Trump signed an executive order stating that “it is the policy of the executive branch to streamline and expedite, in a manner consistent with law, environmental reviews and approvals for all infrastructure projects, especially projects that are a high priority for the Nation, such as improving the U.S. electric grid and telecommunications systems and repairing and upgrading critical port facilities, airports, pipelines, bridges, and highways.”

• Domestic manufacturing: Trump signed a memorandum directing federal agencies “to support the expansion of manufacturing in the United States through expedited reviews of and approvals for proposals to construct or expand manufacturing facilities and through reductions in regulatory burdens affecting domestic manufacturing.” The memorandum is to be “implemented consistent with applicable laws.”

• Withdrawing from the TPP: In a major victory for American national sovereignty, President Trump fulfilled his campaign pledge to withdraw the U.S. government from the “free trade” regime known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Despite strong support from Obama, most congressional Republicans, and the establishment wing of both parties, the secretly negotiated “trade” scheme was unconstitutional, dangerous, and extraordinarily unpopular across the political spectrum. The TPP would have stripped Americans of their right to self-government across a wide array of policy areas. From policies on immigration and trade to regulation and labor, the TPP and related schemes would purport to give foreign powers the ability to make rules for Americans. But with a simple executive order by the new president, the globalist establishment's cherished dream for what lawmakers described as a “Pacific Union”-style super-government went up in smoke. For more information, click here.

• Reinstating the Mexico City policy: Trump signed an executive order reinstating the Mexico City policy, which bars federal money from going to foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that perform or promote abortion. For more information, click here.

• Federal hiring freeze: Trump signed a memorandum ordering “a freeze on the hiring of Federal civilian employees to be applied across the board in the executive branch.” The order excludes the military and also exempts positions deemed “necessary to meet national security or public safety responsibilities.”

• Meeting with corporate leaders: Trump outlined some of his proposals for boosting U.S. manufacturing in a meeting with corporate leaders. “What we want to do is bring manufacturing back to our country,” Trump told the chief executives, which also included the leaders of companies such as Ford, Dow Chemical, Lockheed Martin, and U.S. Steel. To accomplish that, Trump proposed slashing corporate tax rates from 35 percent “down to anywhere from 15 to 20 per cent,” helping to bring U.S. tax rates — the highest in the developed world — back in line with those of other industrialized countries. He also vowed to seek a “very major border tax” on companies that shut down their U.S. factories and then try to sell goods back into the United States. And regarding the regulatory burden, he told the CEOs, “We think we can cut regulations by 75 percent, maybe more.”

• Renegotiating NAFTA: "Anybody ever hear of NAFTA?" Politico quoted Trump as joking at a swearing-in ceremony for top White House advisors. "I ran a campaign somewhat based on NAFTA. But we're going to start re-negotiating on NAFTA.” For more information, click here.

• Visiting the CIA: Visiting the headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agency on his first full day as president, Trump said, “There is nobody that feels stronger about the intelligence community and the CIA than Donald Trump." He also told the crowd: “So I can only say that I am with you 1,000%. And the reason you’re my first stop is that, as you know, I have a running war with the media. They are among the most dishonest human beings on Earth…. And they sort of made it sound like I had a feud with the intelligence community. And I just want to let you know, the reason you’re the number one stop is exactly the opposite.” His remarks at CIA headquarters notwithstanding, Trump has been critical of the intelligence community and its treatment of him, saying in a January 11 press conference that leaking “information that turned out to be so false and fake” was “something that Nazi Germany would have done.” His remarks were in reference to an unsubstantiated “dossier” added to the intelligence community’s report of alleged Russian interference in the recent U.S. presidential election. For more information about the chasm between Trump and the intelligence community, see here, here, and here.

• Inaugural speech: At his inauguration as the 45th President of the United States, President Donald Trump put the globalist establishment that has been selling out America for so long on notice: The American people are back in charge. Quoting the Bible and acknowledging God the Creator as the true source of America's protection, Trump did not mince words when he described the betrayal of America by the self-appointed establishment. But starting today, Trump said the “historic movement” that propelled his campaign to victory against the entire establishment apparatus was ready to ensure that America will come first. “From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land,” Trump said. “From this moment on, it’s going to be America First.” No doubt globalists and establishment types — in both parties — were left squirming in their seats at the thought of it all. For more information, click here.

• Executive order on ObamaCare: After his inauguration, President Trump signed an executive order for “minimizing the economic burden” of ObamaCare. “It is the policy of my Administration to seek the prompt repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act [ObamaCare],” the order states. "In the meantime, pending such repeal, it is imperative for the executive branch … take all actions consistent with law to minimize the unwarranted economic and regulatory burdens of the Act, and prepare to afford the States more flexibility and control to create a more free and open healthcare market.”

• Other first-day executive actions: President Trump signed a law passed by Congress to grant retired General James Mattis a waiver to legally serve as Trump's secretary of defense, required by law because the Marine was still in military service less than seven years ago. He signed documents making his cabinet picks official. For more information about Trump's actions during his first day as president as well as his agenda, click here.

Trump's First 100 Days
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/25190-trump-s-first-100-days

Day 14 (Thurs., Feb. 2)

• The Johnson Amendment: In his remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast, President Trump acknowledged that “our Republic was formed on the basis that freedom is not a gift from government, but that freedom is a gift from God," and that “among those freedoms is the right to worship according to our own beliefs." He continued: “That is why I will get rid of, and totally destroy, the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution.” The Johnson Amendment is a provision in the U.S. tax code that prohibits tax-exempt organizations including churches from endorsing or opposing political candidates.

Day 13 (Wed., Feb. 1)

• Policy statement on legislation to nullify regulations: The White House released a “Statement of Administration Policy” in support of five House joint resolutions, including legislation to begin nullifying “unnecessary” and “burdensome” regulations imposed by the executive branch on American businesses. The legislation includes H.J. Res. 38, which would nullify a recently promulgated rule that “would establish onerous requirements for coal mining operations”; and H.J. Res. 41, which would nullify a rule that would “require oil and gas producers to reduce natural gas waste and emissions, regardless of whether or not it is economically viable to do so.” The recommended legislation also includes H.J. Res. 40, which would nullify a rule that “would prevent some Americans with disabilities from purchasing or possessing firearms based on their decision to seek Social Security benefits.” The statement concludes: “If these bills were presented to the President in their current form, his advisors would recommend that he sign them into law.”

Day 12 (Tues., Jan. 31)

• Nominating Judge Gorsuch for the Supreme Court: Calling 10th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Neil Gorsuch a man whose “qualifications are beyond dispute” with “an extraordinary résumé as good as it gets,” President Donald Trump announced Gorsuch his pick Tuesday night to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the U.S. Supreme Court. Gorsuch promised that, if confirmed, he would be a “faithful servant of the Constitution and laws of this great country.” Calling the U.S. Constitution the “greatest charter of human liberties” ever conceived on Earth, he told a prime time national television audience that he saw the judge’s role to apply that Constitution to cases that come before him. For more information, click here.

Trump's First 100 Days
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/25190-trump-s-first-100-days

Day 15 (Fri., Feb. 3)

• Rolling back Dodd-Frank: President Trump signed an executive order directing the secretary of the treasury to review financial regulations. The order is intended to be a first step toward rolling back the Obama-era Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. In a morning meeting with business leaders, Trump said, “We expect to be cutting a lot out of Dodd-Frank.” For more information, click here.

• The Fiduciary Duty Rule: Trump signed an executive memorandum ordering a review the Department of Labor’s Fiduciary Duty Rule, due to take effect in April, that would raise the standards of all financial professionals who work with retirement plans or provide retirement planning advice to the level of a fiduciary, a much higher level of accountability than previously required of financial salespersons, such as brokers, planners and insurance agents. The memorandum sets the stage for repealing or revising the Fiduciary Duty Rule. In his memorandum, Trump states, “One of the priorities of my Administration is to empower Americans to make their own financial decisions, to facilitate their ability to save for retirement and build the individual wealth necessary to afford typical lifetime expenses, such as buying a home and paying for college, and to withstand unexpected financial emergencies.”

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