The many firsts in US President Donald Trump’s first year in office (Jan 20,2017 - Jan 20,2018)

First signature

Within hours of taking the oath, US President Donald Trump signed as executive order aimed at “minimising the economic burden” of Obamacare “pending repeal.” Mr. Trump was vocal against his predecessor’s affordable healthcare Act even during his presidential campaign.

Though the Republican-dominated U.S. House approved a Bill to repeal Obamacare, the Senate rejected it.

U.S. President Donald Trump hands Chief of Staff Reince Priebus (right) an executive order that directs agencies to ease the burden of Obamacare, after signing it in the Oval Office in Washington, on January 20, 2017. Also seen is White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter (centre)

 

First removal

Acting Attorney General Sally Yates was removed from her post after she instructed government law officers not to defend the presidential order that put restrictions on people from seven Muslim-majority countries travelling to the U.S. Mr. Trump called Ms. Yates as “an Obama A.G,” hours before sacking her.

Michael Flynn, Mr. Trump’s pick for National Security Advisor, had to quit within a month of his appointment after his name figured in the Russian hacking scandal. And then FBI director James Comey was dismissed “for his way of handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation.”

First foreign trip

Donald Trump chose Riyadh as his first official destination abroad for a Middle East Summit. This was followed by Jerusalem, West Bank, the Vatican, NATO Summit in Brussels and G7 meet in Sicily. His trip to Saudi Arabia was significant where he addressed the issue of ''Islamic Extremism'' beside sealing a defence deal with the Kingdom. Days after Mr. Trump left the country, Saudi Arabia cut its diplomatic ties with Qatar claiming the latter is supporting Iran, which is opposed to US-Saudi ties.

President Donald Trump holds a sword and dances with traditional dancers during a welcome ceremony at Murabba Palace, Saturday, May 20, 2017, in Riyadh

 

 

First change in policy

The significant aspect of Mr. Trump’s first year of presidency has been overturning what was perceived as former President Barack Obama’s landmark decisions. The first among many was opting out of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership that took shape after nearly a decade of negotiations.

The other major one was pulling out of the Paris Accord in which countries decided to work together to limit global warming.

He reluctantly agreed to give Iran “one last chance” before taking a decision on repealing the nuclear deal, and has vowed to revisit '' one-sided settlement '' of Cuban deal.

First dissent

White House press secretary Sean Spicer, who took on the media on behalf of Donald Trump for the first six months,submitted his resignation after the President decided to appoint New York financier Anthony Scaramucci as White House communications director despite his disapproval.

First UN address

On Sept. 19, 2017, Mr. Trump made is maiden address at UN General Assembly . His address largely revolved around North Korea.

“…if U.S is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime,” he said referring to the North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. In his speech he also called Iran a “rogue nation.”

First loss

Virginia and New Jersey went on polls to select their Governors. The Republican Party lost both states to Democrats in the first major polls after the Presidential elections. A month later, Democrat Doug Jones won a ticket to Senate from the traditionally red Alabama.

First recognition

Reversing decades of policy, Mr. Trump officially recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and also declared the U.S. Embassy will move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. It may be recalled that Mr. Trump’s predecessors — from Bill Clinton to George Bush — made similar promises on the campaign trail, but quickly reneged upon taking office.

First legislative victory

Republicans ensured safe passage of Mr. Trump’s $ 1.5 trillion tax overhaulin both Houses of Congress, making it the first legislative victory of Mr. Trump in the first year of his presidency

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks flanked by Vice-President Mike Pence and Senator Tim Scott (right) as he celebrates with Congressional Republicans after the U.S. Congress passed sweeping tax overhaul legislation, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, U.S. on December 20, 2017

The tax code, a first in 30 years, includes permanent tax breaks for corporations and temporary tax cuts for individuals.

First tell-all book

Journalist Michael Wolff published ‘Fire and Fury’, an account of the first 100 days of the Trump Presidency.

Copies of the book “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House” by author Michael Wolff are seen at the Book Culture book store in New York on January 5, 2018

 The book dubbed as “phoney” and “full of lies” by Mr. Trump, was sold out on the day it was released in Washington. Though the White House claims the author never sat down with the President,the book elaborates on how the presidential win came as a surprise to the Trump camp, his obsession with Russian President Vladimir Putin, daughter Ivanka’s presidential ambitions, to junior Trump’s ‘orchestrated’ Saudi coup.