The first two weeks of President Donald Trump
After just 14 days in office, the billionaire has caused quite a stir around the world
It's been two weeks since Donald Trump took the oath of office and was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. From day one, terms such as "fake news" and "alternative facts" have taken centre stage in the new administration and the billionaire has remained steadfastly in the headlines.
Here are just some of the key talking points from the past fortnight:
Inauguration crowd debacle
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The day after his inauguration, Trump claimed that up to 1.5 million people had gathered along the National Mall to see him become President.
However, the New York Times estimates that he drew a crowd about one-third the size of Barack Obama's 2009 record inauguration of 1.8 million.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer insists Trump had the "largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period" and has accused the media of using poor photographs "to minimise the enormous support". Trump's senior adviser Kellyanne Conway later suggested that Spicer simply had "alternative facts".
Women's marches around the world
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A more impressive number turned out for women's marches around the world on Trump's first weekend as president. Protesters in 161 cities waved banners, shouted slogans and sported T-shirts against Trump's views on the 2010 Affordable Care Act and his misogynist behaviour.
May meets Trump
Prime Minister Theresa May became the first world leader to meet President Trump face to face last week. They discussed trade deals, Nato and how they planned to "shape the world" together – at one point even holding hands. Controversially, May also invited Trump for an official state visit to meet Queen Elizabeth, a prospect that was not welcomed by opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Executive order on immigration
One of Trump's most divisive actions so far has been to sign an executive order discontinuing visa entry from seven Muslim-majority countries for the next 90 days and halting the flow of all refugees for at least four months. It prompted protesters to return to the streets across the world. Even former president Obama spoke out against the move.
The Frederick Douglass speech
In one of the stranger Trump quotes of the last two weeks, the president praised abolitionist Frederick Douglass during a Black History Month event as "an example of somebody who has done an amazing job and is being recognised more and more, I notice". Critics questioned if Trump really knew exactly who Douglass was and if, in fact, he knew if he had died more than 120 years ago.
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Syria’s Kurds: abandoned by their US allyTalking Point Ahmed al-Sharaa’s lightning offensive against Syrian Kurdistan belies his promise to respect the country’s ethnic minorities
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The ‘mad king’: has Trump finally lost it?Talking Point Rambling speeches, wind turbine obsession, and an ‘unhinged’ letter to Norway’s prime minister have caused concern whether the rest of his term is ‘sustainable’
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5 highly hypocritical cartoons about the Second AmendmentCartoons Artists take on Kyle Rittenhouse, the blame game, and more
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The ‘mad king’: has Trump finally lost it?Talking Point Rambling speeches, wind turbine obsession, and an ‘unhinged’ letter to Norway’s prime minister have caused concern whether the rest of his term is ‘sustainable’
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A running list of everything Donald Trump’s administration, including the president, has said about his healthIn Depth Some in the White House have claimed Trump has near-superhuman abilities
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Trump sues IRS for $10B over tax record leaksSpeed Read The president is claiming ‘reputational and financial harm’ from leaks of his tax information between 2018 and 2020
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‘Implementing strengthened provisions help advance aviation safety’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
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Judge slams ICE violations amid growing backlashSpeed Read ‘ICE is not a law unto itself,’ said a federal judge after the agency violated at least 96 court orders
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Does standing up to Trump help world leaders at home?Today’s Big Question Mark Carney’s approval ratings have ‘soared to new highs’ following his Davos speech but other world leaders may not benefit in the same way
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Businesses are caught in the middle of ICE activitiesIn the Spotlight Many companies are being forced to choose a side in the ICE debate
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Democrats pledge Noem impeachment if not firedSpeed Read Trump is publicly defending the Homeland Security secretary