The following is a timeline of the first presidency of Donald Trump during the first quarter of 2020, from January 1 to March 31, 2020. For a complete itinerary of his travels, see List of presidential trips made by Donald Trump (2020–21). To navigate between quarters, see timeline of the Donald Trump presidencies. For the Q2 timeline see timeline of the first Trump presidency (2020 Q2).
Timeline Overview
President Trump begins the fourth year of his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Major General Qasem Solemani is assassinated, severely escalating tensions between Iran and the U.S., culminating in an attack by Iran on American military bases in Iraq and the crash of Ukrainian airlines flight 752. President Trump faced an impeachment trial in the Senate, for which he was ultimately acquitted, delivered his third state of the union address, the ongoing presidential primaries, the global COVID-19 pandemic, and the riots protesting the murder of George Floyd.
January 2020
Date Events Photos/videos Wednesday, January 1 Thursday, January 2 Major General Qasem Soleimani, Iran's top security and intelligence commander, is killed in an airstrike at Baghdad International Airport. The Department of Defense issues a statement that the strike had been carried out "at the direction of the President". Friday, January 3 President Trump announces the death of Iranian major general Qasem Soleimani at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida in his address to the nation stating "at my direction, the United States military successfully executed a flawless precision strike that killed the number-one terrorist anywhere in the world, Qasem Soleimani. Soleimani was plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel, but we caught him in the act and terminated him". Saturday, January 4 President Trump threatens on Twitter to attack Iranian cultural sites if Iran retaliates for the assassination of General Soleimani. Sunday, January 5 President Trump returns to Washington, D.C., after spending the holidays at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. Monday, January 6 The Senate returns from winter break. President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Saudi Arabian vice minister of defense Prince Khalid bin Salman./ Former national security adviser John Bolton announces that he is willing to testify in the Senate trial of President Trump if subpoenaed. Tuesday, January 7 The House returns from winter break. President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the White House. The Pentagon verifies an attack on U.S. forces: "At approximately 5:30p.m. (EST) on January 7, Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. military and coalition forces in Iraq." Wednesday, January 8 President Trump discusses diplomatic tensions with Iran in a televised address, warning Tehran of retaliation should they strike again, adding that "Iran appears to be standing down." Ukrainian Airlines Flight 752 crashes on departure from Tehran International Airport, killing all 176 passengers aboard. President Trump wishes North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un happy birthday, calling him a "very good friend". Thursday, January 9 Trump Administration officials, led by the secretary of state Pompeo, C.I.A. director Haspel and Defense Secretary Esper, hold closed-door classified briefings with the House and the Senate on the strike that killed Soleimani. The House votes to limit the president's ability to order military operations against Iran, unless explicitly authorized by Congress. President Trump suggests that the reason for the Soleimani strike was to prevent a plot to "blow up the embassy" in Baghdad. President Trump holds a rally in Toledo, Ohio. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell endorses a resolution to change Senate rules to allow it to dismiss the articles of impeachment against President Trump if they are not transmitted from the House to the Senate within a period of 25 days. Friday, January 10 In an interview with Fox News's Laura Ingraham, President Trump says Iran had been targeting four American embassies before he ordered the killing of Soleimani. "I can reveal that I believe it would've been four embassies." Saturday, January 11 Iranian officials admit that the crash of Ukrainian Airlines Flight 752 was caused by a missile strike brought about by human error and increased tensions as a result of "U.S. adventurism". Sunday, January 12 Monday, January 13 Tuesday, January 14 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announces that the House will vote on Wednesday to send the articles of impeachment against President Trump to the Senate and appoint impeachment managers. President Trump holds a rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Wednesday, January 15 President Trump and Chinese vice premier Liu He sign phase one of a trade deal, pausing two years of the trade war between the two countries. The House votes 228–193 to transmit the articles of impeachment against President Trump to the Senate and appoints impeachment managers. Thursday, January 16 The Senate trial on the removal from office of President Trump begins. The United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), President Trump's replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), is ratified by the Senate 89–10. Friday, January 17 President Trump entertains the Louisiana State University football team, 2019 College Football Champions, at the White House. Saturday, January 18 Sunday, January 19 President Trump travels to Austin to address the American Farm Bureau, touting the greatness of his administration through achievements such as the trade agreement with China and USMCA. Monday, January 20 President Trump completes his third year in office. President Trump and Vice President Pence visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. President Trump's legal team submits a 110-page brief to the Senate concerning the articles of impeachment against him, arguing that adopting those articles was a "dangerous perversion of the Constitution" and that President Trump must be acquitted. Tuesday, January 21 President Trump arrives in Switzerland to attend the 2020 Davos World Economic Forum. President Trump's impeachment trial begins as senators debate procedural rules that will govern the proceedings. Eleven Democratic amendments are rejected 53–47. Wednesday, January 22 President Trump returns to the White House from Switzerland. The Senate votes 53–47 to approve the rules of President Trump's impeachment trial, blocking the inclusion of new evidence or witness testimony. Opening arguments begin, with impeachment managers accusing Trump of trying to cheat in the upcoming 2020 election, adding that his actions demonstrate that "he believes that he's above the law and scornful of constraint." Thursday, January 23 Impeachment managers present their case that President Trump abused his office in an attempt to discredit former vice president Joe Biden, calling on Republican senators to allow new witness testimony. Friday, January 24 President Trump delivers remarks at an anti-abortion March for Life rally in Washington, D.C. Democratic house managers conclude their opening arguments on the first article of impeachment, abuse of power, as well as the second article of impeachment, obstruction of Congress. Saturday, January 25 President Trump's legal defense in his impeachment trial begin opening arguments, refuting the accusations made by the impeachment managers and accusing them of trying to remove him from office as they believed they could not win the 2020 presidential election. Sunday, January 26 Monday, January 27 President Trump's legal defense team continue their opening statements arguing that Trump did nothing wrong and the impeachment inquiry was illegitimate from the start. John Bolton makes a claim that he heard Trump say that he (Trump) wanted the freeze on military aid to Ukraine to continue until Ukrainian officials announced investigations into Joe Biden. Alan Dershowitz, a member of President Trump's legal counsel, claims that "nothing in the Bolton revelations, even if true, would rise to the level of an abuse of power, or an impeachable offense." President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. Tuesday, January 28 President Trump holds a joint press conference with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House to announce a proposed Middle East peace plan. President Trump's legal defense team completes its opening arguments. President Trump holds a rally in Wildwood, New Jersey. Wednesday, January 29 President Trump signs the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA). U.S. senators begin the two-day question portion in President Trump's impeachment trial. Senate Republicans move to further block new witnesses, instead opting to push the trial to a verdict. Thursday, January 30 U.S. senators conclude the two-day question period in President Trump's impeachment trial. President Trump holds a rally in Des Moines, Iowa. Friday, January 31 President Trump signs an executive order adding six more countries to his ban on travel from certain mainly-Muslim countries. The added countries are Nigeria, Myanmar, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Sudan, and Tanzania. The Senate formally blocks an attempt to call new witnesses in President Trump's impeachment trial in a vote of 51–49, with senators Mitt Romney and Susan Collins siding with the Democrats.
February 2020
Date Events Photos/videos Saturday, February 1 Sunday, February 2 The Trump administration announces travel restrictions on air traffic to and from China take effect. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar declares that COVID-19 "poses a public health emergency in the United States". Monday, February 3 President Trump's legal team and house managers begin closing arguments. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) calls President Trump's actions "shameful and wrong" while announcing that she would vote to acquit him. "I cannot vote to convict," Murkowski told the Senate chamber. "The Constitution provides for impeachment but does not demand it in all instances." President Trump wins the Republican Iowa Caucus. Tuesday, February 4 President Trump delivers his third official State of the Union Address. President Trump awards Rush Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom during the State of the Union address. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) announces that she will vote to acquit President Trump in his impeachment trial, despite saying that what he did was wrong. Collins says her decision is based on the fact that she believes Trump has learned from this case" and "will be more careful in the future". Wednesday, February 5 President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó at the White House. President Trump is acquitted by the United States Senate on charges of "abuse of power" in a vote of 48–52 and "obstruction of Congress" in a vote of 47–53, ending the impeachment trial. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) votes to convict in President Trump's impeachment trial on Article I, becoming the only Republican to do so and the first senator from the same party as the president to vote for removal from office. Thursday, February 6 President Trump speaks about politics at the National Prayer Breakfast. In what he calls a "celebration" President Trump delivers remarks in the White House East Room to supporters following his acquittal in the impeachment trial.