ADVERTISEMENT

From playing in trucks to putting 'America First': The 40 most memorable photos from Trump's wild first year in office

Here are the most memorable, controversial, and amusing moments and milestones from President Donald Trump's first year in office.

A lot has happened in President Donald Trump's first year in office.

ADVERTISEMENT

He's faced hurricanes, wildfires, deadly mass shootings in Las Vegas and Texas, and terrorist attacks in New York City. He's met with world leaders in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia to strengthen relations with allies in the fight against a weakened ISIS and an increasingly nuclearized North Korea.

Back home, Trump continues to tout the low unemployment rate, higher-than-expected GDP growth, and a 17-year high consumer confidence index. He says these are indicators of a booming economy.

Trump also nominated Neil Gorsuch as a Supreme Court justice, instituted travel restrictions on citizens from mostly majority-Muslim countries, declared the opioid crisis a "public health emergency," rolled back Obama-era environmental regulations, pulled out of the Paris climate accord, called for a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, and passed the largest overhaul in the US tax code in a generation, among much more.

ADVERTISEMENT

Meanwhile, the investigation into possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia in the 2016 election continues to plague the White House. Special counsel Robert Mueller has already indicted three of Trump's associates: former campaign manager Paul Manafort, foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos, and Manafort's protégé, Rick Gates.

As Trump prepares to enter his second year in office, let's take some time to reflect on some of the most memorable moments of his presidency, in photos:

January 20: Trump was inaugurated on a cold and rainy day in the Capitol. His defeated Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, attended the ceremony.

January 22: Trump's relationship with former FBI Director James Comey started off well, but quickly soured as Comey's investigation into Trump's possible ties to Russia heated up. Trump fired Comey in May.

January 26: Trump has had a tumultuous relationship with the press, at times granting extensive access but also slamming the "fake news" media for critical coverage.

ADVERTISEMENT

January 28: Typical for a president's first year, several top administration officials, including four pictured here, have either resigned or were fired.

January 31: Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. Gorsuch was later confirmed by Congress, one of Trump's first major accomplishments.

February 18: Trump, meanwhile, continued to campaign. In the weeks following his victory, he held a "thank you" tour in honor of his supporters around the country.

February 24: Trump signed a myriad of executive orders, rolling back many Obama-era regulations. In his first 100 days, Trump issued 90 presidential actions, including 32 executive orders.

Source:

ADVERTISEMENT

February 27: As the president met with African-American leaders in the Oval Office, one of his closest advisers, Kellyanne Conway, infamously knelt on a couch. As was the case many times throughout the year, the internet lit up with reactions.

February 28: Trump gave his first address to a joint session of Congress, emphasizing his plans to reorganize international trade, strengthen the military, and boost the economy.

March 2: Trump embraced his role as commander in chief, and held many events for members of the military. Here, he greets colorfully clad sailors on the Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier before boarding Marine One in Virginia.

March 4: Trump also loved seeing his fans. During his "thank you" tour, Trump peeked out of his motorcade to wave to supporters lined across the street.

March 13: Trump held his first Cabinet meeting, though the advisory body was not full until May. After more administration exits, at the end of his first year Trump's Cabinet still has one acting secretary who needs Senate confirmation.

ADVERTISEMENT

March 23: There are light-hearted moments as president, too. Here, he pretended to drive a big truck at the White House during a meeting on healthcare with truckers and CEOs.

April 6: Early foreign policy challenges tested the Trump administration. Here, the president discusses US strikes on Syria, in retaliation for President Bashar al-Assad's chemical weapons attack on his people.

April 17: The day after Easter, Trump kicked off the White House Easter Egg Roll, an annual tradition.

April 27: He also had some time for reflection.

May 21: On Trump's first trip abroad, this bizarre-looking image of Trump with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi and Saudi King Salman went viral. The leaders were hitting a globe to launch a movie at a new counterterrorism center.

ADVERTISEMENT

Source:

May 24: Trump also met Pope Francis at the Vatican, with his wife Melania and daughter Ivanka.

June 13: Back at home, Trump visited a technical college to promote the value of apprenticeships in the workforce. Increasing the number of manufacturing jobs in the US was a cornerstone of his campaign.

July 7: As the months went on, special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation intensified. Here, Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time as US president.

July 20: He also touted STEM education and companies' US investments. Here, Trump met with pharmaceutical industry leaders after announcing a $500 million development project.

ADVERTISEMENT

July 26: A few days later, he gave a speech to the Boy Scouts. Afterwards, the head of the Boy Scouts of America apologized for the "political rhetoric" in Trump's speech.

August 15: Trump sparked another controversy for saying that "both sides" should be blamed for violence during a neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left three dead.

Source:

August 21: Despite being told not to look at the solar eclipse without protective glasses, Trump briefly did anyway.

September 2: After Hurricane Harvey ravaged Texas and Louisiana, Trump and Melania visited victims of the storm.

ADVERTISEMENT

September 6: Often clashing with the Democrats in Congress, Trump did have a moment of compromise with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer over the program that allows young "Dreamers" to stay in the US. That deal has since dissolved, though.

Source:

September 15: Trump invited 11-year-old Frank Giaccio to mow the White House lawn. The Virginia native wrote the president a letter asking if he would support his burgeoning lawn-care business.

October 3: As hurricanes continued to pummel the southern US and Caribbean, Trump visited Puerto Rico. Outrage ensued after many critics viewed Trump's decision to toss victims paper towel rolls as insensitive.

October 4: Tragedy kept striking. After the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history, Trump visited Las Vegas to meet with first responders and victims.

ADVERTISEMENT

October 30: But there were many opportunities to celebrate. A day before Halloween, the Trumps gave out candy to costumed kids and their families trick-or-treating at the White House.

November 2: Republicans, meanwhile, continued to fight for Trump's domestic policy initiatives, including a revamping of the tax code.

November 4: On another trip touting American interests abroad, Trump spent 13 days in Asia. In Japan, Trump met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whom Trump previously hosted at his private Mar-a-Lago beach resort in Florida.

November 13: While in the Philippines, Trump had an amusing moment awkwardly shaking hands with regional leaders.

November 21: In yet another White House tradition, Trump pardoned his first turkey for Thanksgiving.

ADVERTISEMENT

December 4: Trump traveled to Utah to announce a reduction in two national monuments. It was the largest scaling back of federal land in US history.

December 6: Protests broke out across the Middle East after Trump announced that the US would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

December 20: Trump accomplishes one of his signature campaign promises — overhauling the tax code.

December 24: On Christmas Eve, the president and First Lady Melania Trump call children to tell them where Santa is in the world.

January 4: Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders surprises reporters during a White House press briefing with a "special guest."

ADVERTISEMENT

January 16: Trump reportedly criticized protections for immigrants from "shithole countries," referring to Haiti, El Salvador, and nations in Africa. Trump's first year has been an eventful one — and his second one is already shaping up to be the same.

Source:

FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Recommended articles

10 African countries that waste the most food in 2024

10 African countries that waste the most food in 2024

US troop withdrawal from Niger hangs in the balance

US troop withdrawal from Niger hangs in the balance

Detained Binance executives sue Nigerian authorities for human right violation

Detained Binance executives sue Nigerian authorities for human right violation

Nigeria's central bank increases minimum capital base for banks

Nigeria's central bank increases minimum capital base for banks

Sony’s creators convention redefines the creative landscape for content creators

Sony’s creators convention redefines the creative landscape for content creators

Exploring the popularity of progressive jackpot slots in Indonesia

Exploring the popularity of progressive jackpot slots in Indonesia

Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa ranked as Africa's most polluted countries in new report

Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa ranked as Africa's most polluted countries in new report

10 African countries with the lowest life expectancy according to the World Bank

10 African countries with the lowest life expectancy according to the World Bank

Kenyan women are more obese than their men - here’s why

Kenyan women are more obese than their men - here’s why

ADVERTISEMENT