--- title: Trump's 2025: Relive Key Moments of His 2nd Term So Far description: Here's a timeline of Trump's turbulent 2025, from a barrage of executive orders to controversial pardons to upending immigration policy canonical: https://time.com/7340573/donald-trump-timeline-first-year-second-term/ author: Brian Bennett article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2025-12-17T11:00:00.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-03-31T13:09:32.470Z article:section: Politics og:title: Trump's 2025: Relive Key Moments of His 2nd Term So Far og:description: Here's a timeline of Trump's key moments since Inauguration og:url: https://time.com/7340573/donald-trump-timeline-first-year-second-term/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9fdc7006cd1b18fa/6998cc5093610cec50c303f3/Trump-oath.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2400 og:image:height: 1350 og:image:alt: TOPSHOT-US-POLITICS-TRUMP-INAUGURATION og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Trump's 2025: Relive Key Moments of His 2nd Term So Far twitter:description: Here's a timeline of Trump's key moments since Inauguration twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9fdc7006cd1b18fa/6998cc5093610cec50c303f3/Trump-oath.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Timeline: Key Moments in Donald Trump's Turbulent 2025 > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, three times a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters.  by [Brian Bennett](https://time.com/author/brian-bennett/)  ## Brian Bennett Bennett is the senior White House correspondent at TIME. Dec 17, 2025 11:00 AM UTC  Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States in the Rotunda of the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20. Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States in the Rotunda of the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20. Morry Gash—AFP / Getty Images  by [Brian Bennett](https://time.com/author/brian-bennett/)  ## Brian Bennett Bennett is the senior White House correspondent at TIME. Dec 17, 2025 11:00 AM UTC Donald Trump's [first year in office](https://time.com/7340571/trump-2025-white-house-takeaways/) 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**](https://time.com/7208371/trump-inauguration-2025-photos/) inside the Capitol Rotunda Grants clemency to [more than 1,500](https://time.com/7208978/trump-pardons-jan-6/) 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](https://time.com/7177802/elon-musk-donald-trump-2024-election/) (**DOGE**) and announces a federal hiring freeze Suspends the **U.S. Refugee Admissions Program** and freezes all foreign aid Signs an [Executive Order](https://time.com/7208516/trump-executive-orders-immigration-deportation-border/) ending the **constitutional right of citizenship** to those born in the U.S., which is quickly challenged in court Issues [guidance](https://time.com/7208516/trump-executive-orders-immigration-deportation-border/) 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](https://time.com/7177802/elon-musk-donald-trump-2024-election/) 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](https://time.com/7209901/donald-trump-executive-actions-project-2025/) ## 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_](https://time.com/7340571/trump-2025-white-house-takeaways/) ## 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”  President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office at the White House on Feb. 28. Andrew Harnik—Getty Images ## Feb. 28 Joins Vice President J.D. Vance in [berating Ukrainian President **Volodymyr Zelensky**](https://time.com/7262883/trump-zelensky-meeting/) 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](https://time.com/7270418/venezuela-deported-reyes-barrios/) 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](https://time.com/7272007/pete-hegseth-signal-chat-mike-waltz/) ## 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”](https://time.com/7274039/trump-tariff-announcement/) event **Read more:** [Exclusive: Inside Trump’s First 100 Days](https://time.com/7280106/trump-interview-100-days-2025/) ## April 30 Signs [deal with **Ukraine**](https://time.com/7282110/ukraine-minerals-deal/) to create a shared investment fund for rare earth mining to offset cost of American-made weapons ## May 12 Admits [**59 white South Africans**](https://time.com/7284895/south-african-refugees-landed-trump/) to U.S. as refugees ## May 21 Berates **South African President** [**Cyril Ramaphosa**](https://time.com/7288363/south-africa-reacts-trump-ramaphosa-oval-office/) 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**](https://time.com/7213125/usaid-foreign-aid-freeze-effects-global/) ## July 4 Signs into law the [**One Big Beautiful Bill Act**](https://time.com/7300177/trump-signs-big-beautiful-bill/)**,** 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  Members of the US National Guard patrol at Union Station in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 14. Jim Watson—AFP / Getty Images ## Aug. 11 Deploys [**National Guard** in Washington, D.C.,](https://time.com/7308788/trump-washington-dc-national-guard/) 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](https://time.com/7316280/charlie-kirk-dead-political-violence/) 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](https://time.com/7318188/antifa-anti-fascist-trump-major-terrorist-organization-designation-legal-enforcement/) ## 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**](https://time.com/7321625/trump-netanyahu-gaza-plan/) and puts himself in charge of a future “Peace Council” overseeing the Gaza Strip **Read more**: [How the Gaza Deal Got Done](https://time.com/7327675/trump-israel-gaza-deal-interview/) ## Oct. 13 Hamas releases all 20 living **Israeli hostages** who had been held in Gaza for more than two years  Workers demolish the facade of the East Wing of the White House on Oct. 20. Kevin Dietsch—Getty Images ## Oct. 20 Begins demolition of the White House’s [**East Wing**](https://time.com/7327838/white-house-east-wing-history/) 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**”](https://time.com/7329958/trumps-nuclear-weapons-testing-what-to-know/) 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”](https://time.com/7334893/khashoggi-saudi-crown-prince-trump-mbs-cia/) about the killing of Washington _Post_ journalist **Jamal Khashoggi** and that “things happen.” ## Nov. 19 Signs bill to [release case files](https://time.com/7335230/trump-signs-epstein-files-bill/) of convicted sex offender **Jeffrey Epstein,** after months of opposing it ## Nov. 21 Hosts a [friendly meeting](https://time.com/7335876/trump-mamdani-meeting-white-house/) 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” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/7340573/donald-trump-timeline-first-year-second-term/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/7340573/donald-trump-timeline-first-year-second-term/"},"headline":"Timeline: Key Moments in Donald Trump's Turbulent 2025","datePublished":"2025-12-17T11:00:00.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-31T13:09:32.470Z","description":"Here's a timeline of Trump's turbulent 2025, from a barrage of executive orders to controversial pardons to upending immigration policy","url":"https://time.com/7340573/donald-trump-timeline-first-year-second-term/","keywords":["Donald Trump"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9fdc7006cd1b18fa/6998cc5093610cec50c303f3/Trump-oath.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Brian Bennett","jobTitle":"Bennett is the senior White House correspondent at TIME.","url":"https://time.com/author/brian-bennett/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9fdc7006cd1b18fa/6998cc5093610cec50c303f3/Trump-oath.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"TOPSHOT-US-POLITICS-TRUMP-INAUGURATION","caption":"TOPSHOT-US-POLITICS-TRUMP-INAUGURATION","creditText":"Morry Gash—AFP / Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/donald-trump/","name":"Donald Trump"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/7340573/donald-trump-timeline-first-year-second-term/","name":"Timeline: Key Moments in Donald Trump's Turbulent 2025"}}]}] ```