The following is a timeline of the first presidency of Donald Trump during the second quarter of 2018, from April 1 to June 30, 2018. For a complete itinerary of his travels, see List of presidential trips made by Donald Trump (2018). To navigate between quarters, see timeline of the Donald Trump presidencies. For the Q3 timeline see timeline of the first Trump presidency (2018 Q3).
Overview Economy
More than 103,000 jobs were created in March as the unemployment rate remained stable into April. At the start of the quarter, the U.S. stock market experienced daily sell-offs and recoveries due to a burgeoning U.S.–China trade war and increased political scrutiny of American business icons Amazon and Facebook. In May, the U.S. Labor Department reported a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.9% for April and an increase of 164,000 jobs. Wages grew by 2.6%. Hiring gains were broad based with jobs being added in the fields of professional and business services, health care, manufacturing, and mining.
Public opinion
According to FiveThirtyEight, President Trump's approval rate at the beginning of this quarter was 40.5%, down 4.9% from the start of his presidency. By May 1, it had improved to 41.2%. For more polls, see 2018 opinion polling on the Trump administration
Timeline April 2018
Date Events Photos/videos Sunday, April 1 Monday, April 2President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump participate in the White House Easter Egg Roll. Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov claims Trump invited Russian president Vladimir Putin to the White House. Tuesday, April 3President Trump holds a joint press conference with the leaders of three Baltic states at the White House: Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid, Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis and Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite. Wednesday, April 4President Trump signs a proclamation directing the deployment of the National Guard to the U.S.–Mexico border to fight illegal immigration. President Trump attends a campaign rally in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia. Thursday, April 5 Friday, April 6 Saturday, April 7 Sunday, April 8 Monday, April 9After the FBI and federal prosecutors raid the home, hotel room, and office of President Trump's personal attorney, Michael Cohen, Trump brands the raid as "an attack on our country in a true sense". Regarding firing special counsel Robert Mueller, President Trump says, "Many people have said you should fire him", and "We'll see what happens". President Trump meets with military leaders to discuss a response to poison gas attacks in Syria. Tuesday, April 10The White House confirms the resignation of Homeland Security advisor Thomas Bossert and National Security Council spokesman Michael Anton. President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar at the White House. President Trump hosts the NCAA football champion Alabama Crimson Tide on the south lawn of the White House. Wednesday, April 11President Trump signs a bill that reduces legal protections for websites that enable sex trafficking. Nadia Schadlow, deputy national security adviser for strategy, resigns effective April 27. President Trump hires a new member for his legal team, Joanna Hendon, a partner at the New York firm Spears & Imes. Thursday, April 12President Trump launches a task force to "conduct a thorough evaluation of the operations and finances of the United States Postal System". President Trump tweets a warning that "an attack on Syria could be very soon or not soon at all!" Friday, April 13President Trump pardons Scooter Libby, the former chief of staff for Vice President Dick Cheney in the George W. Bush administration. As a result of the Plame investigation into the leaking of an undercover CIA agent's identity, Libby had been found guilty of making false statements, obstruction of justice and lying under oath. President Trump sends a series of tweets attacking James Comey, the fired FBI director, as a liar and a "slimeball" and suggests Comey should be in jail. President Trump orders missile strikes against Syria in retaliation for the chemical weapons attack on April 7 and challenges Iran and Russia to decide if they will continue to support the Assad regime. President Trump in his address to the nation from the White House stated "A short time ago, I ordered the U.S. Armed Forces to launch precision strikes on targets associated with the chemical weapons capabilities of Syrian dictator, Bashar al-Assad, a combined operation with the armed forces of France and the United Kingdom is now under way." President Trump says the United States may rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Saturday, April 14 Sunday, April 15 Monday, April 16President Trump's new lawyer, Joanna Hendon, a partner at New York's Spears & Imes law firm, represents him at a hearing concerning Michael Cohen. Tuesday, April 17President Trump meets with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe for the first of two days of meetings and events to discuss trade, security, and Trump's expected meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un this spring. President Trump announces that CIA director Mike Pompeo had travelled to North Korea over the Easter Weekend and met with Kim Jong-un to discuss and plan for Trump's visit. UN Ambassador Nikki Haley responds to a claim by White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow that she was confused when she announced a rollout of sanctions on Russia by commenting, "With all due respect, I don't get confused." Wednesday, April 18President Trump and Japanese prime minister Shinzō Abe conduct a joint news conference after their second day of meetings. Thursday, April 19 Rudy Giuliani, as well as Jane and Marty Raskin, join President Trump's legal team. The Raskins are married law partners based in Coral Gables, Florida. Saturday, April 21President Trump uses Twitter to attack New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman following an article she wrote about his poor treatment of Michael Cohen and that Cohen may cooperate with prosecutors as a result. Sunday, April 22President Trump tweets a claim that North Korea has agreed to denuclearize. Monday, April 23French President Emmanuel Macron, accompanied by his spouse, begins a three-day state visit, the first during the Trump presidency. The Senate foreign relations committee votes 11–9 in favor of Mike Pompeo's nomination for secretary of state. Tuesday, April 24The Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs announces a delay in the hearing for Trump veterans administration nominee Ronny Jackson. President Trump holds a bilateral meeting and joint press conference with French president Emmanuel Macron at the White House. President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump host their first state dinner in honor of French president Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte. Wednesday, April 25French president Emmanuel Macron addresses a joint meeting of the members of Congress. Bryan Rice, head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, resigns. Thursday, April 26Dr. Ronny Jackson withdraws his nomination to head the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Senate confirms Mike Pompeo as the 70th U.S. Secretary of State in a vote of 57–42. President Trump withholds some classified documents as NARA releases 19,045 more documents on the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy. They are to be released in 2021. Friday, April 27President Trump holds a bilateral meeting and joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the White House. Saturday, April 28 Sunday, April 29 Monday, April 30Stormy Daniels files a defamation lawsuit against Trump for his "total con job" tweet about the forensic sketch of a man who allegedly threatened her in 2011. President Trump holds a bilateral meeting and joint press conference with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari at the White House. Thomas Homan, acting director of ICE, announces his retirement effective June 2018.
May 2018
Date Events Photos/videos Tuesday, May 1President Trump presents the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to the Army Black Knights football team for its victory over both Air Force and Navy last year. During an interview with NBC News, Harold Bornstein, Donald Trump's longtime personal medical doctor for over 35 years, says Keith Schiller, director of Oval Office operations for the White House, another unnamed "large man", and Alan Garten, the Trump Organization's chief legal officer, had taken Donald Trump's medical records from Bornstein's office on February 3, 2017, without obtaining a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) release statement signed by Donald Trump. Wednesday, May 2President Trump announces plans to replace retiring White House lawyer Ty Cobb with former President Clinton's impeachment lawyer, Emmet Flood. Thursday, May 3President Trump speaks at the National Day of Prayer service in the Rose Garden. Friday, May 4Over the preceding week, four EPA officials have resigned: Albert "Kell" Kelly, the top Superfund advisor; Pasquale Perrotta, the head of Administrator Pruitt's security detail; Associate Administrator Liz Bowman; and today John Konkus, deputy Associate Administrator for public affairs. The Trump administration ends temporary protected status for Hondurans, leaving potentially 57,000 people vulnerable to deportation. President Trump and Vice President Pence speak at National Rifle Association of America's annual convention in Dallas, Texas. Saturday, May 5President Trump attends a fundraiser for the RNC in Cleveland, Ohio. Sunday, May 6 Monday, May 7First Lady Melania Trump announces the launch of her Be Best anti-cyber bullying initiative. Tuesday, May 8The White House denies a New York Times report that President Trump has privately told French president Emmanuel Macron the U.S. is withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal. President Trump announces in a speech that the U.S. will withdraw from the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal and reinstate sanctions. Wednesday, May 9R. Timothy Ziemer, the official on the National Security Council responsible for global health security and biodefense, is dismissed and his position is abolished. Thursday, May 10President Trump welcomes three American detainees released from North Korea. Homeland Security director Kirstjen Nielsen considers resigning after being berated by the president during a cabinet meeting. Friday, May 11Kelly Sadler, a White House official, mocks Senator John McCain, saying his opposition to Gina Haspel, Trump's nominee for CIA director, "doesn't matter, he's dying anyway". Saturday, May 12 Sunday, May 13 Monday, May 14A report shows the Trump administration is concerned about chemically polluted water supplies near military installations. Tuesday, May 15The Trump administration eliminates the White House's top cyber security policy role. Rob Joyce, the coordinator, is no longer at the White House. UN Ambassador Nikki Haley walks out of UN Security Council as Palestinian Ambassador Riyad H. Mansour begins his remarks. Wednesday, May 16President Trump submits a disclosure of personal finances which is required by the Office of Government Ethics. Trump acknowledges that Michael Cohen was paid between $100,000 and $250,000 in 2017. President Trump meets with Uzbekistani President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the White House. Thursday, May 17Gina Haspel is confirmed by the Senate as the first female CIA director. President Trump meets with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House. Friday, May 18President Trump announces the nomination of acting VA secretary Robert Wilkie to head the agency. At the same White House event he expressed his "sadness and heartbreak" over the Santa Fe school shooting. First Lady Melania Trump is released from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after a five-day stay for kidney surgery.