WEEK THIRTEEN
Day 85: Fri., April 14
• Breaking with the policy set by the Obama administration, the White House says it will no longer release visitor logs.
Day 86: Sat., April 15
• To celebrate its founder’s birthday, North Korea stages a huge military parade, which includes trucks carrying new missiles.
• In marches held nationwide, protesters demand that Trump release his taxes.
• Citing Afghan army officials, Stars and Stripes reports 94 ISIS members were killed in Thursday’s MOAB explosion.
• Internet sensation April the giraffe gives birth to a male calf.
Day 87: Sun., April 16
• The Washington Post reports that, in the first quarter of 2017, ICE arrests for immigrants with no criminal records rise.
• Vice President Mike Pence, at a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, warns North Korea: “Just in the past two weeks, the world witnessed the strength and resolve of our new President in actions taken in Syria and Afghanistan. North Korea would do well not to test his resolve — or the strength of the Armed Forces of the United States in this region.”
Day 88: Mon., April 17
• Trump tweets out positive approval ratings from Rasmussen.
• Trump tweets a book recommendation: “A great book for your reading enjoyment: ‘REASONS TO VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS’ by Michael J. Knowles.” The book is filled with blank pages.
• The White House hosts its annual Easter Egg Roll for children, which opens with an address from Trump: “This is the 139th Easter Egg Roll. Think of it — 139. It began a long time ago — 1878. And we will be stronger and bigger and better as a nation than ever before. We’re right on track.”
• At the White House press briefing, Press Secretary Sean Spicer defends the decision to keep the visitor logs secret: “I think that we recognize that there’s a privacy aspect to allowing citizens to come express their views.”
• Trump calls Turkey’s president, Recep Erdogan, to congratulate him on his recent referendum victory.
Day 89: Tue., April 18
• “Oh God, is that all? It’s like dog years or something.” — Sen. Elizabeth Warren, on The View, reacting to Trump’s 89 days in office
• Former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State John Kerry attend the funeral of Steelers chairman Dan Rooney.
• Shattered, an account of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes, is released. The New York Times reviews it: “In chronicling these missteps, ‘Shattered’ creates a picture of a shockingly inept campaign hobbled by hubris and unforced errors, and haunted by a sense of self-pity and doom.”
• The Associated Press reports that Ivanka Trump’s clothing company received Chinese trademarks the same day she dined with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago.
• The naval “armada” that Trump said on April 11 was heading north toward the Korean peninsula is revealed to be traveling south and is currently in waters near Indonesia.
• LOCAL: City Paper reports on Mayor Bill Peduto’s new TV campaign ad, which takes on Donald Trump instead of primary challengers.
• Trump gives a speech at Snap-on Tools in Kenosha, Wis., touting “buy American” and “hire American.” In the same speech, Trump claims: “No administration has accomplished more in the first 90 days.”
• Trump signs an executive order directing federal agencies to “Buy American, Hire American.”
• No candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote in an open election for Georgia District 6 to fill the seat of Rep. Tom Price, now secretary of health and human services. There will now be June 20 runoff between Democrat Jon Ossoff and Republican Karen Handel.
Day 90: Wed., April 19
• The reigning Super Bowl champs the New England Patriots visit the White House. Star quarterback Tom Brady demurs, citing “family matters.”
• “After a thorough and careful review of the allegations, the Company and Bill O’Reilly have agreed that Bill O’Reilly will not be returning to the Fox News Channel.” — Statement from 21st Century Fox, Fox News’ parent company
• LOCAL: Hundreds of U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy’s constituents hold a town hall without their representative, City Paper reports.
• At Trump’s invitation, Sarah Palin visits the White House, bringing Ted Nugent and Kid Rock as her guests.
Day 91: Thu., April 20
• “Don’t you brag to me that you never read a book / I never put my faith in a con man and his crooks.” — Pittsburgh musician Joe Grushecky and Bruce Springsteen team up for the protest song, “That’s What Makes Us Great.”
• Politico checks in with Trump’s promise to have a cybersecurity plan in place by 90 days. There doesn’t appear to be one.
• Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni visits the White House. At a joint press conference, Trump cites musical artists Verdi and Pavarotti (“a friend of mine, a great friend of mine”) and previews the updated health-care bill: “The plan gets better, and better and better. And it’s gotten really, really good. And a lot of people are liking it a lot.”
• In an interview with radio host Mark Levin, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, referring to Honolulu-based federal judge Derrick Watson, who put a halt to Trump’s second immigration order, says: “I really am amazed that a judge sitting on an island in the Pacific can issue an order that stops the president of the United States from what appears to be clearly his statutory and constitutional power.”
