Timeline: Key Moments in Donald Trump's Turbulent 2025

Donald Trump’s first year in office was marked by a barrage of stark policy shifts and dramatic political moments. At times, it was hard to keep up. Here’s a timeline of the biggest moments since Trump’s Inauguration on Jan. 20. Jan. 20, 2025 Takes the oath of office inside the Capitol Rotunda Grants clemency to more than 1,500 charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol Withdraws the U.S. from the Paris Agreement on reducing greenhouse-­gas emissions Changes the official government name of the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America Creates Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and announces a federal hiring freeze Suspends the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and freezes all foreign aid Signs an Executive Order ending the constitutional right of citizenship to those born in the U.S., which is quickly challenged in court Issues guidance to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) allowing immigration arrests at schools, hospitals, and public gatherings Jan. 21 Allows ICE to make civil immigration arrests inside courthouses Jan. 24 Fires 17 inspectors general tasked with investigating waste, fraud, and abuse at federal agencies Jan. 25 Tells reporters on Air Force One, “I think Greenland we’ll get,” as his push to acquire the territory from Denmark stuns European allies Jan. 28 Office of Personnel Management sends “Fork in the Road” email to federal workers with offer to resign and be paid through Sept. 30 Read more: Trump’s Early Actions Mirror Project 2025, the Blueprint He Once Dismissed Jan. 29 Signs into law the Laken Riley Act, which requires detention of immigrants charged with theft or assault of officers Feb. 1 Citing a national emergency on illegal immigration and fentanyl smuggling, announces plan to impose 25% tariffs on most imports from Canada and Mexico Feb. 3 Tells reporters he’d “like to see Canada become our 51st state” Read more: All Gas, No Guardrails: Trump’s Whirlwind First Year Feb. 4 Says during an event with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. should “own” the Gaza Strip, “level the site,” and make it the “Riviera of the Middle East” Feb. 28 Joins Vice President J.D. Vance in berating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Oval Office March 1 Declares English the official language of the United States March 15 Invokes the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members to a notorious prison in El Salvador Orders missile strikes against Houthi militants in Yemen, the plans for which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth inadvertently texts to a journalist March 24 Signs an Executive Order authorizing 25% tariffs on goods from any country importing Venezuelan oil April 2 Announces 10% tariff on all imports and singles out some countries for higher rates at “Liberation Day” event Read more: Exclusive: Inside Trump’s First 100 Days April 30 Signs deal with Ukraine to create a shared investment fund for rare earth mining to offset cost of American-made weapons May 12 Admits 59 white South Africans to U.S. as refugees May 21 Berates South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Oval Office June 7 Deploys the National Guard to Los Angeles to protect federal buildings and personnel during protests June 10 Announces seven military bases reverting to names that previously honored Confederate leaders June 17 While Israel strikes Iranian nuclear sites and Iran launches missile barrages at Israel, calls for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” and asserts U.S. now has “total control” of Iran airspace June 21 Orders airstrikes on nuclear facilities in Iran June 30 Shuts down the U.S. Agency for International Development July 4 Signs into law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a large spending package that reduces taxes on corporations and the wealthy and strips away investments aimed at reducing fossil-fuel use July 18 Secures release of 10 American prisoners in Venezuela in exchange for return home of 252 Venezuelans the U.S. sent to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison Aug. 11 Deploys National Guard in Washington, D.C., and declares a “crime emergency” Sept. 2 Posts a video on social media of the U.S. military blowing up a boat at sea, saying the strike killed 11 “narcoterrorists.” Within three months, similar U.S. strikes kill more than 80 people Sept. 10 Posts on Truth Social that Charlie Kirk is dead after being shot at Utah Valley University Sept. 15 Deploys the National Guard to Memphis Sept. 20 Publicly pressures Attorney General Pam Bondi to indict former FBI Director James Comey, which the Justice Department does five days later Sept. 22 Designates “Antifa” a domestic terrorist organization Sept. 25 Issues a memorandum instructing the FBI to investigate groups that promote violence based on “anti-Christianity,” “anti-Capitalism,” “extremism on migration,” and “hostility toward those who hold traditional views” Sept. 29 Announces Israel has accepted a U.S. plan for a cease-fire and puts himself in charge of a future “Peace Council” overseeing the Gaza Strip Read more: How the Gaza Deal Got Done Oct. 13 Hamas releases all 20 living Israeli hostages who had been held in Gaza for more than two years Oct. 20 Begins demolition of the White House’s East Wing to build a ballroom, saying donors will cover construction costs Oct. 29 Announces on Truth Social that the U.S. will “start testing our Nuclear Weapons” in light of “other countries testing programs” Nov. 17 U.N. Security Council adopts Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza Nov. 18 Contradicting U.S. intelligence findings, says that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “knew nothing” about the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi and that “things happen.” Nov. 19 Signs bill to release case files of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after months of opposing it Nov. 21  Hosts a friendly meeting with Zohran Mamdani, the newly elected mayor of New York City and an avowed democratic socialist in the Oval Office. “I think this mayor is going to be doing some things that are really great,” Trump says. Dec. 5  Accepts the newly created “FIFA Peace Prize” from FIFA President Gianni Infantino awards at the World Cup draw ceremony in Washington, D.C. Dec. 9  Announces a “permanent pause on Third World migration, including from hellholes like Afghanistan, Haiti, Somalia and many other countries” at a rally in Pennsylvania, and acknowledges making a reference to “sh-thole countries” during his first term that he had previously denied Dec. 10  Announces to reporters at the White House that the U.S. had seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela. Attorney General Pam Bondi says the oil tanker was seized for “supporting foreign terrorist organizations”