page_title: Timeline of the Donald Trump presidency (2017 Q3)
section_title: Week 30
hierarchical_section_title: Timeline of the Donald Trump presidency (2017 Q3) / Timeline / August 2017 / Week 30
caption_attribution_description: English: Vice President Mike Pence participates in a joint press conference with President Macri in Argentina Español: El Vicepresidente de los Estados Unidos Mike Pence junto a Mauricio Macri en una conferencia de presna
context_page_description: The following is a timeline of the presidency of Donald Trump during the third quarter of 2017. To navigate between quarters, see Timeline of the Donald Trump presidency.
context_section_description: Monday, August 14
  President Trump again condemns the violence that took place at the rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
  President Trump signs an executive order authorizing U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to begin investigations into Chinese trade practices that harm American businesses, with particular focus on intellectual property and advanced technology.
  President Trump speaks by phone to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on finding ways to prevent North Korea launching ballistic missiles at Guam across Japanese territory.
  Attorney General Sessions decries the August 12 Charlottesville vehicle attack as "domestic terrorism".
  The CEOs of Merck, Intel and Under Armour resign from the American Manufacturing Council in protest at President Trump's response to the Charlottesville rally.
  Tuesday, August 15
  President Trump signs an executive order calling for federal departments to speed up the permits process for construction of transportation, water and other infrastructure projects. He revokes regulations intended to manage and prevent flooding.
  President Trump holds a press conference at which he goes "off teleprompter" and reverts to his earlier apportioning of blame in Charlottesville, apparently equally, to both sides. At this same news conference he voices his personal support of the rationale of the Alt-right's claim that General Lee was a historical figure of similar historical importance to Lincoln, Washington and Jefferson, and that he therefore supported the Alt-Right's rationale for protesting against the removal of the Charlottesville statue of General Lee.
  Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, and Richard Trumka, president of AFL-CIO, resign from the American Manufacturing Council. President Trump describes the resignees as "grandstanders".
  Vice President Pence holds meetings with Argentinian President Mauricio Macri in Buenos Aires, focused on strengthening business ties between their two countries.
  Wednesday, August 16
  President Trump appoints Hope Hicks as interim White House Communications Director, replacing Scaramucci.
  After the fallout from Trump's handling of the Charlottesville protest, numerous members of President Trump's American Manufacturing Council announce their intention to resign from the Council. President Trump announces the dissolution of the Council and also of the Strategic and Policy Forum following the resignations of Inge Thulin, CEO of 3M, and Campbell's Soup Company CEO Denise Morrison.
  President Trump signs a veterans' education bill to provide college assistance for military veterans and increase these payments if they complete science, technology and engineering courses.
  In Santiago, Chile, Vice President Pence has a meeting with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet to build business ties between both countries and to call for Chile to break its diplomatic ties with North Korea.
  Thursday, August 17
  President Trump condemns a fatal terrorist attack in Barcelona and offers Spain the full support of the United States.
  President Trump scraps plans initiated by Executive Order on July 19 for the setup of an Advisory Council on Infrastructure.
  President Trump holds meetings with the Small Business Administration chief Linda McMahon on finding ways to help small business who have difficulty getting loans and finding the right workers.
  The White House announces a deal whereby the U.S. can resume exporting pork to Argentina, for the first time since 1992.
  Vice President Pence has meetings with Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela focusing on commercial and security ties, as well as tackling drug trafficking, illegal migration and money laundering, culminating with a tour of the Panama Canal.
  Friday, August 18
  President Trump directs that the U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) be elevated to the status of a Unified Combatant Command (UCC).
  The White House announces that Chief Strategist Steve Bannon has left his position "by mutual agreement".
  Numerous presidential advisors resign, among them pastor A. R. Bernard, Microsoft president Brad Smith, M
caption: Vice President Pence and Argentine President Mauricio Macri at a joint press conference
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