First presidency of Donald Trump: Difference between revisions

Sessions resisted several demands by Trump and his allies for investigations of political opponents, causing Trump to repeatedly express frustration, saying at one point, "I don't have an attorney general."<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||url=https://www.npr.org/2018/09/19/649475687/trump-again-slams-jeff-sessions-i-don-t-have-an-attorney-general|title=Trump Again Slams Jeff Sessions: 'I Don't Have An Attorney General'|newspaper=[[NPR]]|date=September 19, 2018|access-date=November 21, 2018|last1=Seipel|first1=Arnie}}</ref> While criticizing the special counsel investigation in July 2019, Trump falsely claimed that [[Article Two of the United States Constitution|the Constitution]] ensures that "I have to the right to do whatever I want as president."<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last=Brice-Saddler|first=Michael|date=July 23, 2019|title=While bemoaning Mueller probe, Trump falsely says the Constitution gives him 'the right to do whatever I want'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/07/23/trump-falsely-tells-auditorium-full-teens-constitution-gives-him-right-do-whatever-i-want/|access-date=July 24, 2019|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> Trump had on multiple occasions either suggested or promoted views of extending his presidency beyond normal term limits.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||last=Corbett|first=Erin|title=Trump Keeps Alluding to Extending His Presidency. Does He Mean It? |date=May 6, 2019 |url=https://fortune.com/2019/05/06/donald-trump-presidential-term-limit/|access-date=June 17, 2019|website=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||last=Wu|first=Nicholas|title=Trump says supporters could 'demand' he not leave office after two terms|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/06/16/trump-says-supporters-could-demand-he-not-leave-after-two-terms/1471915001/ |date=June 16, 2019 |access-date=June 17, 2019|website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref>

The ''New York Times'' summarized the Trump administration's "general approach to law enforcement" as "cracking down on violent crime", "not regulating the police departments that fight it", and overhauling "programs that the Obama administration used to ease tensions between communities and the police".<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last1=Eder|first1=Steve|last2=Protess|first2=Ben|last3=Dewan|first3=Shaila|date=November 21, 2017|title=How Trump's Hands-Off Approach to Policing Is Frustrating Some Chiefs|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/21/us/trump-justice-department-police.html|access-date=November 22, 2017|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Trump reversed a ban on providing federal military equipment to [[Local law enforcement in the United States|local police departments]]<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last=Johnson|first=Kevin|title=Trump lifts ban on military gear to local police forces|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/08/27/trump-expected-lift-ban-military-gear-local-police-forces/606065001/|access-date=June 17, 2020|work=[[USA Today]]|date=August 28, 2017}}</ref> and reinstated the use of civil [[asset forfeiture]].<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||title=Sessions reinstates asset forfeiture policy at Justice Department|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sessions-signals-more-police-property-seizures-coming-from-justice-department/ |work=CBS News |date=July 19, 2017 |agency=CBS/AP |access-date=July 19, 2017}}</ref> The administration stated that it would no longer investigate police departments and publicize their shortcomings in reports, a policy previously enacted under the Obama administration. Later, Trump falsely claimed that the Obama administration never tried to reform the police.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last=Timm|first=Jane|title=Trump says Obama didn't reform policing – but he did. Then the president ditched it.|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1231200|access-date=June 17, 2020|work=[[NBC News]]|date=June 16, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last=Benner|first=Katie|title=Sessions, in Last-Minute Act, Sharply Limits Use of Consent Decrees to Curb Police Abuses|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/08/us/politics/sessions-limits-consent-decrees.html|access-date=June 17, 2020|work=The New York Times|date=November 8, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20181109033145/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/08/us/politics/sessions-limits-consent-decrees.html|archive-date=November 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

The administration banned [[bump stock]]s after such devices were used by the gunman who perpetrated the [[2017 Las Vegas shooting]].<ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||title=The US Supreme Court Is Letting The Trump Administration's Bump Stocks Ban Take Effect|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetillman/bump-stocks-ban-nationwide-gun-control-supreme-court |first=Zoe |last=Tillman |date=April 5, 2019 |access-date=July 13, 2019 |website=[[BuzzFeed News]]}}</ref> In the wake of several [[mass shootings in the United States|mass shootings]] during the Trump administration, including [[2019 El Paso shooting|August 2019 shootings in El Paso, Texas]], and [[2019 Dayton shooting|Dayton, Ohio]], Trump called on states to implement [[red flag law]]s to remove guns from "those judged to pose a grave risk to public safety".<ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||last=Lawrence|first=Elizabeth|date=August 5, 2019|title=After back to back shootings, Trump called for red flag laws. Here's what they are.|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/08/05/dayton-el-paso-shootings-what-red-flag-laws/1922428001/|work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> By November 2019, he abandoned the idea of red-flag laws.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||first=Josh |last=Dawsey |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-quietly-abandons-proposing-ideas-to-curb-gun-violence-after-saying-he-would-following-mass-shootings/2019/10/31/8bca030c-fa6e-11e9-9534-e0dbcc9f5683_story.html |title=Trump abandons proposing ideas to curb gun violence after saying he would following mass shootings |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=November 1, 2019}}</ref> Trump repealed a regulation that barred gun ownership from approximately 75,000 individuals who received [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] checks due to mental illness and who were deemed unfit to handle their financial affairs.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||last=Vitali|first=Ali|title=Trump Signs Bill Revoking Obama-Era Gun Checks for People With Mental Illnesses|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-signs-bill-revoking-obama-era-gun-checks-people-mental-n727221 |date=March 1, 2017 |work=[[NBC News]]|access-date=February 16, 2018}}</ref> The administration ended U.S. involvement in the UN [[Arms Trade Treaty]] to curb the international trade of conventional arms with countries having poor human rights records.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||first=Bill|last=Chappell|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/04/26/717547741/trump-moves-to-withdraw-u-s-from-u-n-arms-trade-treaty|title=Trump Moves To Withdraw U.S. From U.N. Arms Trade Treaty|work=[[NPR]]|date=April 26, 2019}}</ref>

The [[White House Coronavirus Task Force]] was led by Vice President Mike Pence, Coronavirus Response Coordinator [[Deborah Birx]], and Trump's son-in-law [[Jared Kushner]].<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last1=Shear|first1=Michael|last2=Weiland|first2=Noah|last3=Rogers|first3=Katie|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/26/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-cdc.html|title=Trump Names Mike Pence to Lead Coronavirus Response|date=February 26, 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 27, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200227003735/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/26/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-cdc.html|archive-date=February 27, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Congress appropriated $8.3{{spaces}}billion in emergency funding, which Trump signed into [[Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act|law]] on March 6.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last=Keith|first=Tamara|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/03/06/812825943/trump-signs-coronavirus-funding-bill-cancels-trip-to-cdc|title=Trump Visits CDC After Coronavirus Fears Throw Schedule Into Chaos|date=March 6, 2020|work=[[NPR]]|access-date=March 7, 2020}}</ref> During his oval office address on March 11, Trump announced an imminent travel ban between Europe and the U.S. The announcement caused chaos in European and American airports, as Americans abroad scrambled to get flights back to the U.S. The administration later had to clarify that the travel ban applied to foreigners coming from the [[Schengen Area]], and later added Ireland and the UK to the list.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last=Specia|first=Megan|date=March 12, 2020|title=What You Need to Know About Trump's European Travel Ban|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/12/world/europe/trump-travel-ban-coronavirus.html|access-date=March 28, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||last=Snyder |first=Tanya |title=White House adds U.K., Ireland to travel ban, hints at airline aid |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/14/white-house-adds-uk-ireland-to-travel-ban-129470 |date=March 14, 2020 |access-date=March 28, 2020 |website=[[Politico]]}}</ref> Previously, in late January 2020, the administration banned travel to the U.S. from China; prior to the decision, major U.S. carriers had already announced that they would no longer fly to and from China.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||last=Tate|first=Curtis|title=Delta, American, United to suspend all China mainland flights as coronavirus crisis grows|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2020/01/31/coronavirus-china-flight-ban-delta-cuts-all-flights-white-house/4620989002/ |date=January 31, 2020 |access-date=April 3, 2020|website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> On March 13, Trump designated COVID-19 pandemic as a [[national emergency]], as the number of known cases of COVID-19 in the country exceeded 1,500, while known deaths exceeded 40.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last1=Politi|first1=James|last2=Kuchler|first2=Hannah|date=March 14, 2020|title=Donald Trump declares US national emergency for coronavirus|work=[[Financial Times]]|url=https://www.ft.com/content/465543fa-655c-11ea-b3f3-fe4680ea68b5|access-date=March 18, 2020}}</ref>

Trump has repeatedly characterized [[Illegal immigration to the United States|illegal immigrants]] as criminals, although some studies have found they have lower crime and incarceration rates than native-born Americans.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/22/us/politics/trump-immigration-borders-family-separation.html |first=Katie |last=Rogers |date=June 22, 2018 |title=Trump Highlights Immigrant Crime to Defend His Border Policy. Statistics Don't Back Him Up.|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 24, 2018}}</ref> Prior to taking office, Trump promised to deport the estimated eleven million illegal immigrants living in the United States and to build a [[Trump wall|wall]] along the [[Mexico–U.S. border]].<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last=Tareen|first=Sophia|title=Trump's election triggers flood of immigration questions|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2016/1118/Trump-s-election-triggers-flood-of-immigration-questions |newspaper=[[Christian Science Monitor]] |date=November 18, 2016|access-date=November 18, 2016}}</ref> During his presidency, Trump reduced legal immigration substantially while the illegal immigrant population remained the same.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||date=January 20, 2021|title=President Trump Reduced Legal Immigration. He Did Not Reduce Illegal Immigration|url=https://www.cato.org/blog/president-trump-reduced-legal-immigration-he-did-not-reduce-illegal-immigration |first=Alex |last=Nowrasteh |access-date=January 21, 2021|website=Cato Institute}}</ref> The administration took several steps to limit the rights of legal immigrants, which included attempted revocations of [[Temporary Protected Status]] for Central American refugees,<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last=Nakamura|first=David|date=August 16, 2017|title=Trump administration ends Obama-era protection program for Central American minors|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-administration-ends-obama-era-protection-program-for-central-american-minors/2017/08/16/8101507e-82b6-11e7-ab27-1a21a8e006ab_story.html |access-date=November 10, 2021}}</ref> 60,000 Haitians (who emigrated following the [[2010 Haiti earthquake]]),<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last=Miroff|first=Nick|date=January 8, 2018|title=200,000 Salvadorans may be forced to leave the U.S. as Trump ends immigration protection|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-administration-to-end-provisional-residency-for-200000-salvadorans/2018/01/08/badfde90-f481-11e7-beb6-c8d48830c54d_story.html|access-date=January 8, 2018|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> and 200,000 Salvadorans (who emigrated following a series of devastating earthquakes in 2001)<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last=Jordan |first=Miriam |date=January 8, 2018 |title=Trump Administration Says That Nearly 200,000 Salvadorans Must Leave |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/08/us/salvadorans-tps-end.html |access-date=January 8, 2018 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> as well as making it illegal for refugees and asylum seekers,<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last=Thomsen |first=Jacqueline |date=July 3, 2018 |title=Sessions rescinds DOJ guidance on refugees, asylum seekers' right to work |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |url=https://thehill.com/regulation/international/395440-sessions-rescinds-guidance-on-refugees-asylum-seekers-right-to-work |access-date=July 4, 2018}}</ref> and spouses of [[H-1B visa]] holders to work in the U.S.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last=Mullen|first=Jethro|title=Trump will stop spouses of H-1B visa holders from working |work=[[CNN Business]] |url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/12/15/technology/h1b-visa-spouses-h4-trump/index.html |date=December 15, 2017 |access-date=December 15, 2017}}</ref> A federal judge blocked the administration's attempt to deport the TPS recipients, citing what the judge said was Trump's racial "animus against non-white, non-European immigrants".<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||title=Federal judge blocks Trump from deporting hundreds of thousands of immigrants under TPS|work=[[USA Today]]|url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/10/03/judge-blocks-trump-administration-deporting-immigrants-under-tps/1517268002/ |date=October 3, 2018 |first=Alan |last=Gomez |access-date=October 4, 2018}}</ref> The administration slashed refugee admissions to record low levels (since the modern program began in 1980).<ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||date=September 27, 2019|title=US slashes refugee limit to all-time low of 18,000|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49847906 |access-date=November 10, 2021 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> The administration made it harder non-citizens who served in the military to receive necessary paperwork to pursue U.S. citizenship.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last=Copp|first=Tara|date=May 3, 2018|title=Naturalizations drop 65 percent for service members seeking citizenship after Mattis memo|work=Military Times|url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/05/03/naturalizations-drop-65-percent-for-service-members-seeking-citizenship-after-mattis-memo|access-date=May 4, 2018}}</ref> The administration's key legislative proposal on immigration was the 2017 [[RAISE Act]], a proposal to reduce legal immigration levels to the U.S. by fifty percent by halving the number of [[Permanent residence (United States)|green cards]] issued, capping [[refugee]] admissions at 50,000 a year and ending the [[Diversity Immigrant Visa|visa diversity lottery]].<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||first=Harold |last=Brubaker |date=August 10, 2017 |title=Wharton study: Immigration proposal will lead to less economic growth and fewer jobs |work=Philadelphia Daily News |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/business/wharton-study-immigration-proposal-will-lead-to-less-economic-growth-and-fewer-jobs-20170810.html |access-date=August 11, 2017}}</ref> In 2020, the Trump administration set the lowest cap for refugees in the modern history of the United States for the subsequent year: 15,000 refugees.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||first1=Susan |last1=Heavey |first2=Ted |last2=Hesson |first3=Kristina |last3=Cooke |first4=Mimi |last4=Dwyer |first5=Mica |last5=Rosenberg |date=October 28, 2020|title=Trump administration sets record low limit for new U.S. refugees|work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-refugees-idUSKBN27D1TS|access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref> The administration increased fees for citizen applications, as well as caused delays in the processing of citizen applications.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||date=May 25, 2021|title=Citizenship agency eyes improved service without plan to pay|url=https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-voter-registration-lifestyle-travel-immigration-1c0554d5d141776722c64f5deadbad8d |first1=Elliot |last1=Spagat |first2=Sophia |last2=Tareen |access-date=June 20, 2021|website=Associated Press}}</ref>

In June, the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] partially [[Stay of execution|stayed]] certain injunctions that were put on the order by two federal appeals courts earlier, allowing the executive order to mostly go into effect. In October, the Court dismissed the case, saying the orders had been replaced by a new proclamation, so challenges to the previous executive orders are moot.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/10/10/victory-trump-supreme-court-dismisses-travel-ban-case/752401001/|title=In victory for Trump, Supreme Court dismisses travel ban case|last1=Wolf|first1=Richard|last2=Korte|first2=Gregory|work=[[USA Today]]|date=October 10, 2017|access-date=October 20, 2017}}</ref>

In January 2020, Trump added [[Nigeria]], [[Myanmar]], [[Eritrea]], [[Kyrgyzstan]], [[Sudan]], and [[Tanzania]] to the visa ban list.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/trump-admin-expands-travel-ban-new-restrictions-six-countries-n1127841 |first1=Adiel |last1=Kaplan |first2=Daniella |last2=Silva |title=Trump admin expands travel ban with new restrictions for six countries |website=[[NBC News]] |date=January 31, 2020 |access-date=March 2, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/01/31/trump-expands-controversial-travel-ban-six-new-countries/4620473002/ |first=David |last=Jackson |title=Trump expands controversial travel ban restrictions to six new countries |website=[[USA Today]] |date=January 31, 2020 |access-date=March 2, 2020}}</ref>

On June 1, 2020, hundreds of police officers, members of the [[National Guard (United States)|National Guard]] and other forces, in riot gear used smoke canisters, rubber bullets, batons and shields to disperse a crowd of peaceful protesters outside [[St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square|St. John's Episcopal Church]] across [[Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C.|Lafayette Square]] from the White House.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last=Rogers|first=Katie|date=June 1, 2020|title=Protesters Dispersed With Tear Gas So Trump Could Pose at Church|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/01/us/politics/trump-st-johns-church-bible.html|access-date=June 2, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||last=Beauchamp|first=Zack|date=June 1, 2020|title=Officers fire tear gas on peaceful protesters to clear the way for Trump's photo op|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/6/1/21277530/trump-speech-police-violence-dc-tear-gas|website=[[Vox (website)|Vox]]|access-date=June 2, 2020}}</ref> A news crew from Australia was attacked by these forces<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last=Hume|first=Tim|title=Australian Journalists Covering DC Protests Were Assaulted by Cops on Live Morning Television|url=https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/akzvzz/australian-journalists-covering-dc-protests-were-assaulted-by-cops-on-live-morning-television|work=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]|date=June 3, 2020|access-date=June 3, 2020}}</ref> and clergy on the church's porch suffered effects of the gas and were dispersed along with the others.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||date=June 1, 2020|title=Police Fire Tear Gas Outside White House Before Trump Speech|url=https://www.mediaite.com/tv/watch-police-fire-tear-gas-at-protesters-gathered-outside-the-white-house-as-trump-prepares-to-address-the-nation/ |first=KJ |last=Edelman |website=Mediaite|access-date=June 2, 2020}}</ref> Trump, accompanied by other officials including the secretary of defense, then walked across Lafayette Square and posed for pictures while he was holding a Bible up for the cameras, outside the church which had suffered minor damage from a fire started by arsonists the night before.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last=McCreesh |first=Shawn |title=Protests Near White House Spiral Out of Control Again |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/31/us/politics/washington-dc-george-floyd-protests.html |work=The New York Times |date=June 1, 2020|access-date=June 1, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/historic-church-near-white-house-damaged-amid-unrest-leaders-pray-for-healing/2318673/|title=Historic Church Near White House Damaged Amid Unrest; Leaders Pray for Healing|first=Sophia|last=Barnes|date=June 1, 2020|work=NBC 4 Washington|access-date=June 3, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last=Zoellner |first=Danielle |title='Here in New York, we read the Bible': Cuomo condemns Trump for his church photo op |website=[[The Independent]] |date=June 3, 2020 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/cuomo-trump-bible-photo-new-york-coronavirus-a9547481.html |access-date=November 10, 2021 |quote='Is that your Bible?' a reporter is heard asking Mr Trump during the moment. He responded: 'It's a Bible.'}}</ref> [[Mariann Edgar Budde]], Bishop of the [[Episcopal Diocese of Washington]] said she was "outraged" by Trump's actions,<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||title='He Did Not Pray': Fallout Grows From Trump's Photo-Op At St. John's Church |newspaper=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/06/02/867705160/he-did-not-pray-fallout-grows-from-trump-s-photo-op-at-st-john-s-church |date=June 2, 2020 |first=Bill |last=Chappell |access-date=June 2, 2020}}</ref> which also received widespread condemnation from other religious leaders.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last1=Jackson|first1=David|last2=Collins|first2=Michael|last3=Wu|first3=Nicholas|title=Washington archbishop denounces Trump visit to Catholic shrine as 'baffling' and 'reprehensible'|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/06/02/george-floyd-trump-visit-catholic-shrine-amid-photo-op-criticism/3122549001/|access-date=June 2, 2020|work=[[USA Today]]|publisher=[[Gannett]]|date=June 2, 2020|location=[[McLean, Virginia]]}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||title=George Floyd death: Archbishop attacks Trump as US unrest continues|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52897303|access-date=June 2, 2020|work=[[BBC News]]|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=June 2, 2020|location=[[London]]}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||title=Outraged Episcopal leaders condemn tear-gassing clergy, protesters for Trump photo op at Washington church |url=https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2020/06/02/episcopal-leaders-express-outrage-condemn-tear-gassing-protesters-for-trump-photo-op-at-washington-church/ |first=Egan |last=Millard |website=Episcopal News Service |access-date=June 3, 2020 |date=June 2, 2020}}</ref> However, the reaction from the religious right and evangelicals generally praised the visit.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/06/trumps-biblical-spectacle-outside-st-johns-church/612529/ |last=Coppins |first=McKay |title=The Christians Who Loved Trump's Stunt |website=[[The Atlantic]] |date=June 2, 2020|access-date=June 4, 2020|quote="I thought it was completely appropriate for the president to stand in front of that church," Jeffress told me. "And by holding up the Bible, he was showing us that it teaches that, yes, God hates racism, it's despicable{{snd}}but God also hates lawlessness."}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/06/christian-right-leaders-loved-trumps-bible-photo-op.html|title=Christian Right Leaders Loved Trump's Bible Photo Op|website=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |last=Kilgore|first=Ed|date=June 2, 2020|access-date=June 4, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/03/donald-trump-church-photo-op-evangelicals|title='He wears the armor of God': evangelicals hail Trump's church photo op |website=[[The Guardian]] |last=Teague |first=Matthew |date=June 3, 2020|access-date=June 4, 2020}}</ref>

In 2018, Trump signed into law the VA MISSION Act, which expanded eligibility for the [[Veterans Choice]] program, allowing veterans greater access to private sector healthcare.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last=Slack |first=Donovan |title=Trump signs VA law to provide veterans more private health care choices. |work=[[USA Today]] |date=June 6, 2018 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/06/06/trump-signs-law-expanding-vets-healthcare-choices/673906002/ |access-date=March 9, 2021}}</ref> Trump falsely asserted more than 150 times that he created the Veterans Choice program, which has in fact existed since being signed into law by president Obama in 2014.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/08/politics/trump-veterans-choice-paula-reid/index.html |date=August 9, 2020 |title=Trump walks out of news conference after reporter asks him about Veterans Choice lie he's told more than 150 times |first=Daniel |last=Dale |website=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||access-date=March 7, 2021 |title=Spin, hyperbole and deception: How Trump claimed credit for an Obama veterans achievement|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/10/23/trump-obama-veterans-choice-act/ |first=Ashley |last=Parker |date=October 23, 2020 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>

In February 2020, [[United States–Taliban deal|the Trump administration signed a deal with the Taliban]], which if upheld by the Taliban, would result in the [[2020–2021 U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan|withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan]] by May 2021 (Trump's successor Joe Biden later extended the deadline to September 2021).<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||title=Afghan conflict: US and Taliban sign deal to end 18-year war |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51689443 |access-date=August 16, 2021 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=February 29, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last1=Brown |first1=Matthew |title=A timeline of the US withdrawal and Taliban recapture of Afghanistan |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/08/15/timeline-afghanistans-history-and-us-involvement/8143131002/ |access-date=August 16, 2021 |work=[[USA Today]] |date=August 15, 2021}}</ref> As part of the deal, the U.S. agreed to the release of 5,000 Taliban members who were imprisoned by the Afghan government; some of these ex-prisoners went on to join the [[2021 Taliban offensive]] that felled the Afghan government.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last1=Mashal |first1=Mujib |last2=Faizi |first2=Fatima |title=Afghanistan to Release Last Taliban Prisoners, Removing Final Hurdle to Talks |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/09/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-prisoners-peace-talks.html |access-date=August 18, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=September 3, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last1=Weissert |first1=Will |last2=Fram |first2=Alan |title=GOP hits Biden despite divides over Afghanistan withdrawal |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-afghanistan-036874ebcb40acb404ac1a7f3db11f1a |access-date=August 18, 2021 |work=Associated Press|date=August 17, 2021}}</ref>

During an initial rally earlier that morning, Trump encouraged his supporters to march to the U.S. Capitol.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2021/jan/06/georgia-election-latest-news-senate-ossoff-warnock-democrats-republicans-trump-biden|title=Schumer calls pro-Trump mob 'domestic terrorists' as Senate resumes election certification{{snd}}live|last1=McCarthy|first1=Tom|last2=Ho|first2=Vivian|last3=Greve|first3=Joan E.|date=January 7, 2021|newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=January 6, 2021|archive-date=January 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106230506/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2021/jan/06/georgia-election-latest-news-senate-ossoff-warnock-democrats-republicans-trump-biden|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last=Blake|first=Aaron|title=Analysis {{!}} 'Let's have trial by combat': How Trump and allies egged on the violent scenes Wednesday|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/01/06/lets-have-trial-by-combat-how-trump-allies-egged-violent-scenes-wednesday/ |date=January 6, 2021 |access-date=January 7, 2021|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107013645/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/01/06/lets-have-trial-by-combat-how-trump-allies-egged-violent-scenes-wednesday/|url-status=live}}</ref> Subsequently, pro-Trump attendees marched to the Capitol building, joined other protesters, and stormed the building.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||first1=Ted|last1=Barrett|first2=Manu|last2=Raju|first3=Peter|last3=Nickeas|title=Pro-Trump mob storms US Capitol as armed standoff takes place outside House chamber|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/06/politics/us-capitol-lockdown/index.html |date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=January 6, 2021|website=CNN|archive-date=January 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106211203/https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/06/politics/us-capitol-lockdown/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Congress was in session at the time, conducting the [[2021 United States Electoral College vote count|Electoral College vote count]] and debating the results of the vote. As the protesters arrived, Capitol security evacuated the Senate and House of Representatives chambers and locked down several other buildings on the Capitol campus.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/06/buildings-in-us-capitol-complex-evacuated-amid-pro-trump-protests.html|title=U.S. Capitol secured hours after pro-Trump rioters invade Congress|first=Amanda Macias, Dan|last=Mangan|date=January 6, 2021|website=CNBC|access-date=January 7, 2021|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107030000/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/06/buildings-in-us-capitol-complex-evacuated-amid-pro-trump-protests.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that evening, after the Capitol was secured, Congress went back into session to discuss the Electoral College vote, finally affirming at 3:41{{spaces}}a.m. that Biden had won the election.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last1=King, Ledyard |last2=Groppe, Maureen |last3=Wu, Nicholas |last4=Jansen, Bart |last5=Subramanian, Courtney |last6=Garrison, Joey |date=January 6, 2021 |title=Pence confirms Biden as winner, officially ending electoral count after day of violence at Capitol |work=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/01/06/congress-count-electoral-college-votes-biden-win/6556555002/ |url-status=live |access-date=January 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107100543/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/01/06/congress-count-electoral-college-votes-biden-win/6556555002/ |archive-date=January 7, 2021}}</ref>

Trump gave a [[Donald Trump's first farewell address|first farewell address]] the day prior to the [[inauguration of Joe Biden]]. In it he stressed his economic and foreign policy record, and said the country can never tolerate "[[political violence]]".<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/19/trump-stresses-economy-foreign-policy-farewell-address-nation/4217614001/|title=Farewell address: Trump stresses record, condemns Capitol riot, does not name Biden|last1=Jackson|first1=David|last2=Collins|first2=Michael|date=January 19, 2021|work=[[USA Today]]|access-date=March 29, 2021}}</ref> Trump did not attend Biden's inauguration, becoming the first departing president in 152 years to refuse to attend his elected successor's inauguration,<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/19/us/politics/presidents-who-skipped-inaugurations.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/19/us/politics/presidents-who-skipped-inaugurations.html |archive-date=December 28, 2021 |url-access=limited |access-date=November 7, 2021 |title=Trump Is Not the First President to Snub an Inauguration|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 20, 2021|first=Jacey|last=Fortin}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||first=Joey|last=Garrison|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/01/08/trump-first-outgoing-president-skip-inauguration-152-years/6596286002/ |access-date=November 7, 2021 |title=A president hasn't refused to attend the inauguration of his successor in 152 years. Donald Trump will change that|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=January 8, 2021}}</ref> but he did honor another tradition by leaving Biden a letter on the [[Resolute desk|''Resolute'' desk]] in the White House.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||access-date=November 7, 2021 |url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-farewell-address-nation/ |date=January 19, 2021 |title=Remarks by President Trump In Farewell Address to the Nation |website=trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:Cite web||last1=Jackson|first1=David|last2=Fritze|first2=John|date=January 20, 2021|title=Donald Trump leaves letter for Joe Biden ahead of inauguration|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/20/donald-trump-leaves-letter-joe-biden-inauguration-day/4228139001/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120152944/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/20/donald-trump-leaves-letter-joe-biden-inauguration-day/4228139001/|archive-date=January 20, 2021|access-date=January 20, 2021|website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref>

In the 2018 presidential rankings by the Siena College Research Institute, Trump ranked as the third-worst president in history.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last1=Cummings |first1=William |title=Survey of scholars places Trump as third worst president of all time |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2019/02/13/siena-presidential-ranking-survey/2857075002/ |access-date=October 19, 2021 |work=[[USA Today]] |date=February 13, 2019}}</ref> [[C-SPAN]]'s 2021 President Historians Survey ranked Trump as the fourth-worst president overall and the worst in the leadership characteristics of Moral Authority and [[Hiring and personnel concerns about Donald Trump|Administrative Skills]]. Trump's best rated leadership characteristic was Public Persuasion, where he ranked 32nd out of the 44 presidents.<ref>{{#invoke:Cite news||last1=Choi |first1=Joseph |title= Trump ranked fourth from worst in C-SPAN's 2021 presidential rankings |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/560926-trump-ranked-fourth-from-worst-in-c-spans-2021-presidential-rankings |access-date=July 1, 2021 |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |date=June 30, 2021}}</ref> Trump ranked last in both the 2018 and 2024 surveys of the [[American Political Science Association]] Presidents and Executive Politics section, with self-identified Republican historians ranking Trump in their bottom five presidents.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chappell |first=Bill |date=February 19, 2024 |title=In historians' Presidents Day survey, Biden vs. Trump is not a close call |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/02/19/1232447088/historians-presidents-survey-trump-last-biden-14th |work=NPR}}</ref>