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
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
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
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.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
India elections start amid violence, hate speech accusations
Talking Points Narendra Modi seeks a third term while critics worry about the future of the country's democracy
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'Biden is smart to keep the border-security pressure on'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Bird flu worries mount as virus found in milk, cows
Speed Read The FDA found traces of the virus in pasteurized grocery store milk
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Biden is smart to keep the border-security pressure on'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Arizona grand jury indicts 18 in Trump fake elector plot
Speed Read The state charged Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani and other Trump allies in 2020 election interference case
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Voters know Biden and Trump all too well'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Who will win the 2024 presidential election?
In Depth Election year is here. Who are pollsters and experts predicting to win the White House?
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
National Enquirer helped Trump in 2016, ex-boss says
Speed Read David Pecker says the tabloid published fabricated content to hurt Trump's rivals
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sitting in judgment on Trump
Opinion Who'd want to be on this jury?
By Susan Caskie Published
-
How could the Supreme Court's Fischer v. US case impact the other Jan 6. trials including Trump's?
Today's Big Question A former Pennsylvania cop might hold the key to a major upheaval in how the courts treat the Capitol riot — and its alleged instigator
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'A direct, protracted war with Israel is not something Iran is equipped to fight'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published