What's this? This is an unbiased just-the-facts news timeline ('newsline') about Donald Trump, created by Newslines contributors. Become a contributor
379 postsDonald Trump is an American businessman, television personality, and President-elect of the United States. He was born in 1946, in Queens, New York. Trump is the President and Chairman of The Trump Organization, which is involved in real estate, entertainment, and hotel ventures across the world. He hosted 14 seasons of NBC’s reality show Celebrity Apprentice. Trump announced he was running for president on June, 16, 2015 and won the election. He is married to Melania Knauss and has five children.
Trump reports for jury duty at the State Supreme Court building in lower Manhattan, arriving by limousine. He signs a few autographs and shook some hands.
It’s my duty, and I’m happy to do it. I’m ready. We’ll see what happens.
He is released without being selected for a trial.
When a reporter asks Trump, just outside the Iowa State Fair grounds if he would throw a billion of his own money into the campaign, he says:
I would do that, yeah. If I had to….You saw I make $400 million a year, so what difference does it make?
He also fulfils a promise he made earlier in the campaign by giving children a ride in the helicopter he arrived in.
On The Nerdist Podcast Cranston discusses Trump.
I actually like his candor. There’s something so refreshing about shaking up that world that is all about being handled. And here comes this loose cannon who has terrible ideas and would be a horrible president, but there’s something great about his ‘I don’t give a s—‘ attitude that really kind of keeps others honest. I think it’s a surprise benefit to the country, actually. I hope he stays in for a long, long time and just collapses that whole tent of his.
Trump tweets that Ailes called him and assured him of fair treatment.
Roger Ailes just called. He is a great guy & assures me that “Trump” will be treated fairly on @FoxNews. His word is always good!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2015
On MSBNC’s Morning Joe Trump says Kelly should be apologizing to him, not the other way around.
She asked me a very inappropriate question. She should really be apologizing to me, you want to know the truth.
Kelly is interviewed for the first time after the debate, but does not directly address Trump’s comments.
I’m sure nerves were high as they were for all of the candidates. He felt attacked – it wasn’t an attack, it was a fair question. But I get it. He’s in the arena and so am I. Its ok with me that there’s some consternation. I’m sure he’ll get over it and we’ll be fine and so will America.
Kelly also says that she told Bret Baier and Chris Wallace before the debate not to defend her if she was attacked.
I’m a big girl, I can handle it. My job is not to feel passionately about these candidates. My job is to go out there and ask probing questions that are hopefully smart and that help the people learn something about this person. (Baier and Wallace) are both gentlemen and I didn’t want them to in any way feel they needed to somehow come to my rescue. I didn’t want them to feel if anybody started to attack me that I would be wondering where my compadres are. I’m a big girl. I can take it.
Stone, an advisor to Trump’s campaign, says he has resigned. However, Trump says he fired him. Stone:
Sorry @realDonaldTrump didn't fire me- I fired Trump. Diasagree with diversion to food fight with @megynkelly away core issue messages
— Roger Stone (@RogerJStoneJr) August 8, 2015
Trump:
I’m going to kick my 2016 campaign into higher gear, cleaning house, no more “publicity seekers”
Excerpt from Stone’s resignation letter:
Restoring national pride and bringing jobs back to America – your initial and still underlying message – is a solid conservative message. In fact, it catapulted you instantly into a commanding lead in the race. Unfortunately, the current controversies involving personalities and provocative media fights have reached such a high volume that it has distracted attention from your platform and overwhelmed your core message. With this current direction of the candidacy, I no longer can remain involved in your campaign.
Trump’s campaign releases a statement about his ‘blood comment’ about Kelly:
Mr Trump made Megyn Kelly look really bad – she was a mess with her anger and totally caught off guard. Mr Trump said “blood was coming out of her eyes and whatever” meaning nose, but wanted to move on to more important topics. Only a deviant would think anything else. This related to the debate, which because of Mr Trump had 24 million viewers – the biggest in cable news history.
Erickson, RedState’s Editor-in-Chief, disinvites Trump from its gathering of Republican leaders in Atlanta, where he was scheduled to deliver the keynote address:
I have tried to give a great deal of latitude to Donald Trump in his run for the Presidency. He is not a professional politician and is known for being a blunt talker. He connects with so much of the anger in the Republican base and is not afraid to be outspoken on a lot of issues. But there are even lines blunt talkers and unprofessional politicians should not cross. Decency is one of those lines…As much as I do personally like Donald Trump, his comment about Megyn Kelly on CNN is a bridge too far for me…His comment was inappropriate. It is unfortunate to have to disinvite him. But I just don’t want someone on stage who gets a hostile question from a lady and his first inclination is to imply it was hormonal. It just was wrong. I have invited Megyn Kelly to attend in Donald Trump’s place tomorrow night.
Trump:
.@redstate I miss you all, and thanks for all of your support. Political correctness is killing our country. "weakness."
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 8, 2015
During an interview with CNN’s Lemon, Trump continues to criticize Kelly
Well, I just don’t respect her as a journalist. I don’t think she’s very good. I think she’s highly overrated… She starts asking me all sorts of ridiculous questions, and you could see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her…wherever. She was, in my opinion, she was off-base.
In a call-in to Fox and Friends Trump criticizes the questioning at the debate:
That question was absolutely aimed at me…Number I’m the only one in that category so it was obviously named at me. It was a little bit of a surprize to justify everything, when your shoes haven’t even become warm.
.@realDonaldTrump: That [pledge] question was aimed at me, which I didn't think it was appropriatehttps://t.co/GWLg8BRcOc
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) August 7, 2015
Trump sends a series of late-night negative Tweets against Kelly and Luntz, who had hosted the post-debate panel:
Wow, @megynkelly really bombed tonight. People are going wild on twitter! Funny to watch.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2015
.@FrankLuntz, your so-called "focus groups" are a total joke. Don't come to my office looking for business again. You are a clown!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2015
O’Donnell tweets a response to Trump’s comments during the first GOP debate:
try explaining that 2 ur kids
— ROSIE (@Rosie) August 7, 2015
At the first GOP debate in Cleveland, OH, Trump is asked by Kelly about his comments about women:
KELLY: Mr. Trump, one of the things people love about you is you speak your mind and you don’t use a politician’s filter. However, that is not without its downsides, in particular, when it comes to women. You’ve called women you don’t like “fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals.” Your Twitter account…
TRUMP: Only Rosie O’Donnell.
KELLY: Your Twitter account has several disparaging comments about women’s looks. You once told a contestant on Celebrity Apprentice it would be a pretty picture to see her on her knees. Does that sound to you like the temperament of a man we should elect as president, and how will you answer the charge from Hillary Clinton, who was likely to be the Democratic nominee, that you are part of the war on women?
TRUMP: I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct. I’ve been challenged by so many people, and I don’t frankly have time for total political correctness. And to be honest with you, this country doesn’t have time either. This country is in big trouble. We don’t win anymore. We lose to China. We lose to Mexico both in trade and at the border. We lose to everybody…And frankly, what I say, and oftentimes it’s fun, it’s kidding. We have a good time. What I say is what I say. And honestly Megyn, if you don’t like it, I’m sorry. I’ve been very nice to you, although I could probably maybe not be, based on the way you have treated me. But I wouldn’t do that.
Trump participates in the GOP debate in Cleveland, OH. As the leader in the polls he takes the first question, asked by Baier:
Is there anyone on stage, and can I see hands, who is unwilling tonight to pledge your support to the eventual nominee of the Republican party and pledge to not run an independent campaign against that person…Again, we’re looking for you to raise your hand now — raise your hand now if you won’t make that pledge tonight.
Trump is the only candidate to raise his hand. Baier:
Mr. Trump to be clear, you’re standing on a Republican primary debate stage…You can’t say tonight that you can make that pledge?
Trump:
I cannot say. I have to respect the person that, if it’s not me, the person that wins, if I do win, and I’m leading by quite a bit, that’s what I want to do. I can totally make that pledge. If I’m the nominee, I will pledge I will not run as an independent. But — and I am discussing it with everybody, but I’m, you know, talking about a lot of leverage. We want to win, and we will win. But I want to win as the Republican. I want to run as the Republican nominee.
Trump is then challenged by Rand Paul, who accuses him of buying politicians.
In a Tweet, King suggests Trump is running a racist campaign.
How's this for a Trump campaign slogan: IF YOU'RE WHITE, YOU'RE ALL RIGHT! ANY OTHER HUE, I DON'T TRUST YOU.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) August 5, 2015
After Gawker publishes Trump’s phone number, Trump changes the message to his campaign message.
Hi, this is Donald Trump and I’m running for the Presidency of the United States of America. With your help and support, together, we can make America truly great again. Visit me at Twitter @RealDonaldTrump and check out my campaign website www.donaldjtrump.com. Hope to see you on the campaign trail, we’re going to do it.
Thank you @gawker! Call me on my cellphone 917.756.8000 and listen to my campaign message.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 4, 2015
Trump says on Hewitt’s show that he would shut down the government to defund Planned Parenthood.
Hewitt: The only way to get rid of Planned Parenthood money for selling off baby parts, is to shut the government down in September would you support that?
Trump: I can tell you this, I would.
Trump talks to Breitbart about the upcoming GOP debate:
I look forward to it. It will be very exciting. I’m looking to treat everybody with great respect which they deserve. I hope we can talk about the issues…I hope we can keep it on a high level. If that doesn’t happen, I’m willing to go to the other route. But I will say the two people who hit me really hard both went down in the polls. And I find that really interesting,and I find it a great honor that that would happen, because in all fairness Lindsey Graham and Perry were really hitting me hard, and they went down in the polls. I am greatly honored by that. I was surprised, to be honest with you.
The candidates for the GOP Presidential debate are announced: Trump, Bush, Walker, Huckabee, Carson, Cruz, Rubio, Paul, Christie and Kasich will appear on stage on Aug 6 in Cleveland, OH. RNC chairman Priebus:
Our field is the biggest and most diverse of any party in history and I am glad to see that every one of those extremely qualified candidates will have the opportunity to participate on Thursday evening. Republicans across the country will be able to choose which candidate has earned their support after hearing them talk through the issues.
