2017–2021

First term

Infrastructure Week, the health plan that never came, and 'two weeks' becomes a punchline. 58 entries.

№ 154 Monday / immediately Broken

$2,000 relief checks 'immediately' after a Monday vote

“[paraphrase] The $600 payments are ridiculously low. Congress must raise them to $2,000 — the House votes Monday and the Senate will start the process.”

· Video statement posted to Twitter, repeated in his December 27 signing statement · ×2

Deadline Dec 25, 2020 · 5 years, 8 months overdue

His six-day delay in signing lapsed unemployment benefits for millions. He signed on December 27, 2020. The House did pass the $2,000 increase on December 28 by 275-134, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked a standalone vote and the increase died. Americans received $600, not $2,000.

№ 153 within 24 hours Broken

'Tens of millions of doses' within 24 hours of FDA authorization

“[paraphrase] Within 24 hours of the FDA's emergency authorization, tens of millions of doses will be distributed.”

· Operation Warp Speed Vaccine Summit at the White House · ×2

Deadline Dec 9, 2020 · 5 years, 9 months overdue

Within 24 hours of Pfizer's December 11, 2020 authorization the government began releasing 6.4 million doses in two stages, not tens of millions. Pfizer had already cut its 2020 manufacturing projection from 100 million to 50 million doses. About 2.8 million people had been vaccinated in the US by December 31, 2020, against a stated goal of 20 million.

№ 152 coming soon / within days Never delivered

Proof of 2020 election fraud, always days away — and the 'Kraken'

“[paraphrase] Big news coming. We have tremendous evidence and you'll see it very soon. / Sidney Powell: 'I'm going to release the Kraken.'”

· Trump tweets and campaign statements; Sidney Powell on Fox Business's 'Lou Dobbs Tonight' · ×8

Deadline Nov 8, 2020 · 5 years, 10 months overdue

The evidence never materialised. A promised fraud press conference was cancelled on his attorneys' advice. Attorney General Bill Barr said on December 1, 2020 that the Justice Department had found no fraud on a scale that would change the outcome. Trump and his allies lost or withdrew roughly 60 of 62 post-election lawsuits, and the Supreme Court rejected the Texas case on December 11, 2020. Powell's 'Kraken' suits in Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin and Arizona were all dismissed; she pleaded guilty to misdemeanour conspiracy charges in Fulton County in October 2023.

№ 151 Never delivered

All troops home from Afghanistan by Christmas

“We should have the small remaining number of our BRAVE Men and Women serving in Afghanistan home by Christmas!”

· Twitter · ×8

About 4,500 to 5,000 troops were in Afghanistan when the tweet was posted. The drawdown reached roughly 2,500 by mid-January 2021, and U.S. forces were still there when Trump left office. The final withdrawal took place in August 2021.

№ 150 immediately / 'fully... Never delivered

'Total Declassification' of Russia and Clinton email files — 'No redactions!'

“I have fully authorized the total Declassification of any & all documents pertaining to the single greatest political CRIME in American History, the Russia Hoax. Likewise, the Hillary Clinton Email Scandal. No redactions!”

· Twitter · ×3

Deadline Oct 7, 2020 · 5 years, 11 months overdue

The blanket release never happened. DNI John Ratcliffe declassified a handful of selected items but no unredacted dump followed. In mid-January 2021, days before leaving office, Trump again ordered 'Obamagate' material declassified with reporting that it would be out within days; the promised material was not publicly released before January 20, 2021.

№ 149 immediately after I win Broken

'Immediately after I win, we will pass a major Stimulus Bill'

“I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election when, immediately after I win, we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans and Small Business.”

· Twitter · ×2

Deadline Oct 7, 2020 · 5 years, 11 months overdue

The tweet killed relief talks and the Dow fell 376 points that day. Trump reversed within about 24 hours and began demanding piecemeal relief, but nothing passed before the election, and he lost. No further relief became law until the $900 billion package Congress approved on December 21, 2020, more than eleven weeks later.

№ 148 Late

A COVID-19 vaccine before Election Day

“[paraphrase] We'll have a vaccine before a very special date — I'm talking about November 3rd.”

· White House press conference, Labor Day · ×10

No vaccine was authorized before the election. Pfizer announced interim efficacy results on November 9, 2020, six days after Election Day. The FDA granted emergency use authorization to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on December 11, 2020 and to Moderna's on December 18, 2020.

№ 147 over the next two weeks Late

Executive order on pre-existing conditions 'over the next two weeks'

“[paraphrase] Over the next two weeks I'll be pursuing a major executive order requiring health insurance companies to cover all pre-existing conditions for all customers.”

· News conference at Trump National Golf Club, Bedminster, New Jersey · ×3

Pre-existing conditions were already covered by the Affordable Care Act, which Trump's administration was simultaneously asking the Supreme Court to strike down. The order finally came on September 24, 2020 — seven weeks late — and PolitiFact and other fact-checkers found it created no enforceable protection, merely declaring it 'the policy of the United States.'

№ 146 Never delivered

'A tremendous health care plan... hopefully prior to the end of the month'

“I do want to say that we're going to be introducing a tremendous health care plan sometime prior — hopefully, prior to the end of the month. It's just completed now.”

· White House press briefing · ×12

August 2020 ended with no plan. CNN's September 5, 2020 headline read 'Trump promised a health care plan before the end of August. It never came.' PolitiFact counted this as at least the fifth Obamacare-replacement promise of 2020 alone. A recognisable 'Great Healthcare Plan' was not announced until January 15, 2026, and even that required Congress to act.

№ 145 Broken

TikTok sold by September 15 'or it's out of business'

“[paraphrase] I set a date of around Sept. 15, at which point it's going to be out of business in the United States.”

· Remarks to reporters at the White House, followed by the August 6, 2020 executive order setting a 45-day clock · ×3

September 15, 2020 passed with no completed sale. Trump gave preliminary blessing on September 19 to an Oracle/Walmart 'TikTok Global' structure and Commerce postponed the app-store ban by a week. A federal judge enjoined the ban on September 27, 2020, and a second injunction followed on December 7. The deal was never consummated and TikTok kept operating — a pattern that repeated with serial extensions in his second term.

№ 144 Broken

30-day ultimatum to drugmakers on 'most favored nation' pricing

“[paraphrase] I am giving the pharmaceutical companies until August 24 to come up with something better, or the most favored nation order takes effect.”

· White House drug-pricing executive order signing ceremony · ×2

The August 24, 2020 midnight deadline passed with no deal and no order, and the White House would not say whether it would proceed. A replacement order was issued on September 13, 2020 that merely directed HHS to develop a rulemaking plan. The resulting interim final rule was blocked by federal courts in December 2020 and later withdrawn.

№ 143 within two weeks Never delivered

'We're signing a health care plan within two weeks'

“We're signing a health care plan within two weeks, a full and complete health care plan.”

· Fox News Sunday interview with Chris Wallace · ×12

Deadline Aug 2, 2020 · 6 years, 1 month overdue

The two weeks expired on August 2, 2020 with nothing signed. On July 31 Trump said it was coming 'sometime very soon'; on August 3 'hopefully, prior to the end of the month'; on August 7 he promised a major executive order 'in two weeks.' What eventually appeared on September 24, 2020 was the 'America First Healthcare Plan' executive order that fact-checkers described as largely symbolic. No comprehensive replacement plan was ever signed.

№ 142 Never delivered

Merit-based immigration order and a DACA fix 'in four weeks'

“[paraphrase] We're going to have a road to citizenship... I'm going to be signing a big immigration bill in about four weeks.”

· Telemundo interview with Jose Diaz-Balart · ×3

The White House walked back 'road to citizenship' within days. Four weeks passed with no bill and no executive order, and none ever appeared before Trump left office. What DHS did issue, on July 28, 2020, was a memo restricting new DACA applications, which federal courts later struck down.

№ 141 very soon / the very near... Never delivered

'We're going to be there very soon' on 5 million tests a day

“We're going to be there very soon... [capacity] will increase by much more than that in the very near future.”

· Oval Office remarks

Deadline May 12, 2020 · 6 years, 4 months overdue

Hours earlier testing czar Adm. Brett Giroir had said there was 'absolutely no way on Earth, on this planet or any other planet' the US could run 5 million tests a day. Trump reversed within a day, denying he had said it and blaming a 'media trap.' The single-day peak at that point was 314,182 tests, and the US never reached 5 million tests a day.

№ 140 Broken

'I would love to have the country opened up by Easter'

“I would love to have it open by Easter... You'll have packed churches all over our country. I think it'll be a beautiful time.”

· Fox News virtual town hall from the White House Rose Garden · ×2

Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx pushed back hard. Five days later, on March 29, 2020, Trump abandoned the Easter target and extended social distancing guidelines to April 30. Easter Sunday 2020 fell in one of the deadliest stretches of the first wave and churches held services online or in parking lots.

№ 139 almost immediately Broken

Hydroxychloroquine 'available almost immediately'

“We're going to be able to make that drug available almost immediately.”

· White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing · ×4

Deadline Mar 20, 2020 · 6 years, 6 months overdue

FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn corrected Trump at the same briefing, saying more study was needed. The FDA issued a narrow emergency use authorization on March 28, 2020 for stockpiled product in certain hospitalized patients, then revoked it on June 15, 2020 after trials showed no benefit and possible cardiac harm. The promotion caused shortages for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis patients.

№ 138 within two weeks Late

$1,000 stimulus checks in people's accounts 'within two weeks'

“[paraphrase] The IRS will ensure that within two weeks the first money will be in people's accounts.”

· White House briefing announcing the $1.2 trillion stimulus proposal (Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, alongside Trump) · ×2

The CARES Act was not signed until March 27, 2020. On March 29 Mnuchin revised the estimate to 'within three weeks.' The first roughly 60 million direct deposits landed around the week of April 13 — about four weeks after the promise — and paper checks began going out the week of May 4 at roughly 5 million a week, with an internal memo warning some Americans might wait until August.

№ 137 Late

'15 Days to Slow the Spread'

“[paraphrase] Fifteen days of avoiding gatherings of more than 10 people, discretionary travel, bars, restaurants and food courts.”

· White House briefing, issued as federal guidance · ×2

On March 29, 2020, with the fifteen days about to expire and after pushing to reopen by Easter, Trump extended the guidelines by another 30 days to April 30 — NPR's headline was 'How 15 Days Became 45.' The guidelines then lapsed into a phased 'Opening Up America Again' framework. The phrase became shorthand for a deadline that never ends.

№ 136 very quickly / locations... Broken

Google's '1,700 engineers' and a national testing website by Sunday night

“Google is helping to develop a website. It's going to be very quickly done... Google has 1,700 engineers working on this right now. They've made tremendous progress.”

· Rose Garden national emergency declaration

Deadline Mar 16, 2020 · 6 years, 6 months overdue

Google publicly corrected the record the same day. The project belonged to Alphabet's Verily, not Google, and launched March 15-16, 2020 as a pilot limited to two San Francisco Bay Area counties, with appointment slots filling almost immediately. Verily ultimately helped about 1.6 million people get tested in 2020 — under 1% of all US tests that year.

№ 135 next week Never delivered

'1.4 million tests on board next week and 5 million within a month'

“We'll have 1.4 million tests on board next week and 5 million within a month.”

· Rose Garden national emergency declaration · ×2

Deadline Mar 20, 2020 · 6 years, 6 months overdue

Roughly 894,000 tests in total had been run nationwide by March 29-30, 2020, well behind the promised weekly volumes. Asked about the gap between tests 'distributed' and tests actually performed, Trump replied, 'I cannot explain the gap.'

№ 134 before the end of this... Never delivered

'Before the end of this week, another 4 million tests will be distributed'

“Over a million tests have been distributed... Before the end of this week, another 4 million tests will be distributed.”

· White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing (statement by Vice President Mike Pence)

Deadline Mar 16, 2020 · 6 years, 6 months overdue

By March 29-30, 2020 roughly 894,000 tests had actually been performed nationwide according to testing coordinator Adm. Brett Giroir — a small fraction of the millions described. In late April Pence said the public had 'misunderstood' him and that he had meant tests available rather than tests completed.

№ 133 right now / immediately Never delivered

'Anybody that wants a test can get a test'

“Anybody that wants a test can get a test. That's what the bottom line is.”

· Remarks to reporters during a tour of the CDC, Atlanta · ×2

Deadline Mar 7, 2020 · 6 years, 6 months overdue

PolitiFact rated the claim Pants on Fire. Under CDC criteria providers, not patients, decided who was tested, and on March 9, 2020 the Association of Public Health Laboratories said demand far exceeded supply. Texas's largest public health lab could run 26 tests a day. Testing on demand did not exist for months.

№ 132 One day / around the... Never delivered

'One day — it's like a miracle — it will disappear'

“It's going to disappear. One day — it's like a miracle — it will disappear.”

· White House meeting with African American leaders · ×22

Deadline Mar 12, 2020 · 6 years, 6 months overdue

Rolling Stone counted at least 22 separate occasions on which Trump predicted the virus would simply go away, including earlier claims that heat would kill it 'in April.' The US passed 100,000 deaths by late May 2020 and roughly 400,000 by the time he left office in January 2021.

№ 131 within a couple of days Never delivered

'Within a couple of days' 15 COVID cases would be 'close to zero'

“And again, when you have 15 people, and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero, that's a pretty good job we've done.”

· White House press conference with the Coronavirus Task Force

Deadline Feb 28, 2020 · 6 years, 6 months overdue

Cases did not fall to zero. The first US community-transmission case was confirmed the same day and the first reported US death came on February 29, 2020. By late March the US had the most confirmed cases in the world, and by the first anniversary of the remark the American death toll had passed 500,000.

№ 130 Never delivered

China will buy $200 billion more in U.S. goods

“[paraphrase] Under the Phase One deal China will purchase an additional $200 billion of American goods and services over two years.”

· Phase One trade deal signing, White House East Room · ×10

Peterson Institute analysis by Chad Bown found China bought none of the additional $200 billion. Purchases of covered products in 2020 fell more than 40 percent short of the year's target, and over the full two-year period China reached only about 57 percent of commitments.

№ 129 immediately / on request Late

'I'll release that too, if it's important to you' — the first Zelensky call

“I'll release that too, if it's important to you.”

· News conference at the UN General Assembly, the day the White House released the July 25 Zelensky call memo

It took 51 days. The April 21, 2019 call memo was finally released on November 15, 2019, timed to land on the second day of the public impeachment hearings and read into the record by Devin Nunes. Adam Schiff noted the White House was still refusing all subpoenaed documents and records.

№ 128 immediately / 'there is a... Never delivered

'Very meaningful background checks' after El Paso and Dayton

“[paraphrase] We're going to have very meaningful background checks. There is a great appetite for background checks.”

· Early-morning tweet on August 5, then remarks to reporters on August 7 before visiting El Paso and Dayton · ×3

Deadline Aug 19, 2019 · 7 years, 1 month overdue

Reversed inside two weeks. After an August 20, 2019 phone call with NRA chief Wayne LaPierre, Trump said on August 20-21 that 'we have very, very strong background checks right now' and warned of a 'slippery slope,' pivoting to mental health and noting that 'a lot of the people that put me where I am are strong believers in the Second Amendment.' No background-check legislation was ever advanced; House-passed bills died in the Senate. He had made and abandoned a near-identical promise after Parkland in February 2018.

№ 127 for two weeks Broken

ICE deportation raids delayed 'for two weeks' as an ultimatum to Congress

“At the request of Democrats, I have delayed the Illegal Immigration Removal Process (Deportation) for two weeks to see if the Democrats and Republicans can get together and work out a solution to the Asylum and Loophole problems at the Southern Border. If not, Deportations start!”

· Twitter, the day before nationwide ICE raids were to begin in about ten cities · ×2

Deadline Jul 6, 2019 · 7 years, 2 months overdue

Congress did not change asylum law; it passed a $4.5 billion humanitarian border supplemental instead. The two weeks lapsed in early July with no raids and no enforcement of the ultimatum. The operation finally launched on July 14, 2019 and produced only about 35 arrests nationwide, against the 'millions' Trump had advertised on June 17.

№ 126 Never delivered

'Phenomenal' health care plan 'in about two months. Maybe less.'

“We're going to produce phenomenal health care. And we already have the concept of the plan... we'll be announcing that in two months, maybe less.”

· ABC News interview with George Stephanopoulos, aired June 16, 2019 · ×12

Senior White House officials told ABC at the time that no bill existed, only 'high-level principles.' Two months came and went. By October 2019 Trump had shifted to saying the plan would come after the 2020 election. This was the opening move of the sequence that ran through the July 2020 'two weeks' pledge.

№ 125 Never delivered

$2 trillion infrastructure deal — 'come back in three weeks'

“[paraphrase] We've agreed on $2 trillion. Come back in three weeks and I'll tell you how we pay for it.”

· Oval Office meeting with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer · ×7

At the scheduled follow-up on May 22, 2019 Trump walked into the Cabinet Room, refused to sit down, said he could not work with Democrats 'under these circumstances' while they were investigating him, and left after about three minutes — then went straight to the Rose Garden to a pre-printed sign. No infrastructure bill was ever agreed, and the New York Times marked the day with 'How Infrastructure Week Became a Long-Running Joke.'

№ 124 Monday or Tuesday Broken

A 'full report' on Khashoggi's murder 'Monday or Tuesday'

“[paraphrase] We'll have a full report on Khashoggi's death Monday or Tuesday — what we think the overall impact was, who caused it and who did it.”

· Remarks to reporters on the South Lawn before boarding Marine One en route to California

Deadline Nov 20, 2018 · 7 years, 10 months overdue

No report was released on the promised day. On November 20, 2018 the White House instead issued Trump's 'Standing with Saudi Arabia' statement, which declined to blame Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — 'maybe he did and maybe he didn't!' — and emphasised arms sales. The intelligence assessment naming the crown prince was not declassified until February 2021, under Biden.

№ 123 Broken

Always protect people with pre-existing conditions

“[paraphrase] We will always protect patients with pre-existing conditions.”

· Twitter and repeated rallies; also stated during the 2016 campaign · ×40

In June 2018 the Justice Department declined to defend the ACA's pre-existing condition protections in Texas v. United States, and in a brief filed June 25, 2020 the administration asked the Supreme Court to strike down the entire law, including those protections. The Supreme Court rejected the challenge in California v. Texas in June 2021. No replacement protection was ever enacted.

№ 122 in the next week and a... Never delivered

A 10% middle-class tax cut 'in the next week and a half to two weeks'

“We're putting in a resolution some time in the next week and a half to two weeks [and] we're giving a middle-income tax reduction of about 10 percent.”

· Remarks to reporters at the White House, two weeks before the midterm elections · ×3

Deadline Nov 3, 2018 · 7 years, 10 months overdue

The resolution did not exist. Congress was in recess until after the November 6 election and never returned before it; Paul Ryan's office referred questions back to the White House and congressional leaders said they knew nothing about it. CNBC noted it was 'unclear what type of resolution Trump was talking about.' No such resolution was ever introduced and no 10% middle-class cut was ever enacted.

№ 121 Broken

China, not Americans, will pay for the tariffs

“[paraphrase] China is paying us billions of dollars in tariffs.”

· Twitter and rallies through 2018-2020 · ×50

Studies by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Princeton and Columbia economists found the cost of the tariffs was borne almost entirely by U.S. importers and consumers. The American Prospect cited an estimated consumer cost of roughly $34 billion a year and an estimated 300,000 jobs lost to the trade war.

№ 120 Never delivered

North Korea is "no longer a nuclear threat"

“There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea. Everybody can now feel much safer than the day I took office.”

· Twitter, after the Singapore summit with Kim Jong Un · ×12

The Singapore statement contained no verification terms or timetable. The Hanoi summit collapsed in February 2019. North Korea continued producing fissile material and testing short-range missiles, and independent estimates put its warhead stockpile higher at the end of the term than in 2018. No weapons or facilities were dismantled.

№ 119 Never delivered

Tariffs will bring back steel jobs

“[paraphrase] Steel is coming back; our steelworkers are going back to work.”

· Section 232 steel tariff proclamation signing, White House · ×15

Steel employment rose modestly in 2018 then fell back. U.S. Steel idled blast furnaces in Michigan and announced layoffs in 2019, and the industry shed jobs again in 2019 and 2020. The American Prospect cited continued losses in listing this among the broken promises.

№ 118 Never delivered

Sitting down with Mueller 'within the next two to three weeks'

“I'm looking forward to it, actually... I would love to do it... I would do it under oath.”

· Impromptu remarks to reporters at the White House before leaving for Davos; his lawyers indicated an interview could come within two to three weeks · ×2

White House special counsel Ty Cobb immediately qualified the offer as 'subject to the terms being negotiated by his personal counsel.' Negotiations dragged on for more than a year and Trump never sat for an interview. In November 2018 he submitted written answers only, which the Mueller report in April 2019 described as inadequate.

№ 117 by October 26 (five days) Partial

Promise to open 'the long blocked and classified JFK FILES'

“Subject to the receipt of further information, I will be allowing, as President, the long blocked and classified JFK FILES to be opened.”

· Twitter, five days before the statutory October 26, 2017 deadline · ×2

Deadline Oct 26, 2017 · 8 years, 10 months overdue

On October 26, 2017, hours before the statutory deadline, about 2,800 records were released but roughly 300 were withheld at the request of the CIA and FBI. Trump's memo said he had 'no choice — today — but to accept those redactions rather than allow potentially irreversible harm to our nation's security,' and ordered a review to release as much as possible by April 26, 2018. Further batches trickled out for years and full release never happened in his first term.

№ 116 next week Partial

Opioid 'national emergency' declaration promised for 'next week'

“We are going to be doing that next week. By the way, you know that's a big step... It's a very important step, and to get to that step, a lot of work has to be done.”

· Remarks to reporters at the White House, asked about declaring a written national emergency · ×2

Deadline Oct 23, 2017 · 8 years, 10 months overdue

Ten days later, on October 26, 2017, he did not declare a national emergency. He directed HHS to declare a narrower 90-day public health emergency under the Public Health Service Act, a tool with no new money attached. USA TODAY tallied 77 days of repeated promises. It followed an August 10, 2017 pledge in which he said 'I'm saying officially right now, it is an emergency' and nothing was signed.

№ 115 Never delivered

Corporate tax cut would raise average household income $4,000

“[paraphrase] Cutting the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent would raise average household income by $4,000 a year.”

· White House Council of Economic Advisers report · ×8

The promised wage gain did not appear. Real hourly wages for production and nonsupervisory workers grew about 1.2 percent in 2018. A Congressional Research Service review found the 2017 law had little measurable effect on wages, and much of the corporate windfall went to share buybacks, which exceeded $800 billion in 2018.

№ 114 Partial

A tax cut for everyone, aimed at the middle class

“[paraphrase] This is a middle-class tax cut; the rich will not benefit.”

· Remarks in Bismarck, North Dakota, and repeated during the tax debate · ×30

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act cut taxes for most but not all filers, and the individual provisions expire after 2025 while the corporate cut is permanent. The Tax Policy Center estimated that by 2027 the top 1 percent would receive roughly 83 percent of the benefits. PolitiFact rated the promise a compromise on December 21, 2017.

№ 113 officially right now /... Never delivered

'I'm saying officially right now, it is an emergency' — and then nothing

“The opioid crisis is an emergency, and I'm saying officially right now, it is an emergency. It's a national emergency. We're going to draw it up and we're going to make it a national emergency.”

· Impromptu remarks to reporters at his Bedminster, New Jersey golf club, ten days after his opioid commission urged a declaration · ×3

Deadline Aug 17, 2017 · 9 years, 1 month overdue

Nothing was signed. NPR reported on October 17, 2017 that 'in the more than two months since Trump made that pronouncement, no emergency declaration has been signed.' Senators Murkowski and Warren pressed him in writing on October 12. What eventually came on October 26 was a narrower 90-day public health emergency with no new money attached.

№ 112 over a very short period... Late

Answer on the Comey 'tapes' in 'a very short period of time'

“I am not hinting at anything. I will tell you about it over a very short period of time.”

· Rose Garden news conference with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis · ×2

He twice refused to elaborate and told reporters 'you're going to be very disappointed.' The House Intelligence Committee set a June 23 deadline for the White House to say whether tapes existed. Thirteen days later, on June 22, 2017, Trump tweeted that he had 'no idea' whether tapes existed 'but I did not make, and do not have, any such recordings.' The White House response to Congress the next day simply pasted the tweet.

№ 111 this week / over the next... Never delivered

'Infrastructure Week' — declared at least seven times, never delivered

“[paraphrase] The infrastructure plan is coming in the next two or three weeks / this is Infrastructure Week.”

· White House 'Infrastructure Week' rollout, first announced by NEC director Gary Cohn · ×7

Deadline Jun 19, 2017 · 9 years, 3 months overdue

The White House declared an 'Infrastructure Week' at least seven separate times between June 2017 and May 2019, each derailed — the June 2017 launch by the Comey testimony, the August 2017 permitting push by Trump's 'very fine people on both sides' remarks after Charlottesville, the February 2018 rollout of a $1.3 trillion public-private plan by the Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels payment story, and the spring 2019 effort by Trump walking out of a meeting with Pelosi and Schumer. No infrastructure bill ever passed under Trump, and 'Infrastructure Week' became a Washington punchline for something permanently two weeks away.

№ 110 in about two weeks Never delivered

News conference on the war against ISIS 'in about two weeks'

“We're going to be having a news conference in about two weeks to let everybody know how well we're doing.”

· Remarks during the Middle East trip on May 21, 2017, repeated at a televised Cabinet meeting on June 12, 2017 · ×2

Deadline Jun 4, 2017 · 9 years, 3 months overdue

No news conference was ever held. Vox tracked it: the first deadline passed, Trump repeated the promise at his June 12 Cabinet meeting, and the second deadline passed on June 26 without the administration organising or even scheduling one.

№ 109 over the next two weeks Late

Decision on the Paris climate accord 'in the next two weeks'

“And I'll be making a big decision on the Paris accord over the next two weeks.”

· 100-days rally, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania · ×2

Two weeks passed with no decision. At the G7 in Taormina on May 26-27 Trump refused to endorse the accord and tweeted that he would announce his decision 'next week.' He announced withdrawal on June 1, 2017, roughly a month after the two-week pledge. Formal withdrawal notice did not come until November 4, 2019 and took effect November 4, 2020.

№ 108 Never delivered

Infrastructure bill to be 'filed over the next two or three weeks'

“We've got the plan largely completed and we'll be filing over the next two or three weeks — maybe sooner.”

· CBS News interview around his 100th day in office · ×7

Nothing was filed. Bloomberg reported on June 6, 2017 that 'no legislation has been filed' and that the White House had 'yet to outline the plan, beyond broad principles.' An actual infrastructure outline did not appear until February 2018, about nine months later, and it never passed.

№ 107 Wednesday / next week Partial

'Massive' tax plan coming 'next week'

“I shouldn't tell you this, but we're going to be announcing, probably on Wednesday, tax reform... it'll be a massive tax cut.”

· Oval Office interview with the Associated Press and remarks at the Treasury Department the same day · ×2

Deadline Apr 26, 2017 · 9 years, 4 months overdue

Partly kept and heavily deflated. By April 24 the White House was saying Trump would be 'outlining principles' and Mick Mulvaney said there would be no bill language. What arrived on April 26, 2017 was a one-page outline presented by Steven Mnuchin and Gary Cohn, not a plan or a bill. Legislation did not pass until December 2017.

№ 106 in two weeks Never delivered

Davis-Bacon prevailing-wage announcement 'in two weeks'

“We're going to make an announcement in two weeks. It's going to be good.”

· Interview with The New York Times, asked his position on the Davis-Bacon Act

Deadline Apr 19, 2017 · 9 years, 5 months overdue

Two months later Bloomberg reported that 'the Trump administration has made no announcement on the Davis-Bacon law.' No announcement was ever made, and prevailing-wage rules on federally funded construction were left untouched for the rest of the term.

№ 105 over the next two weeks Never delivered

Proof of Obama 'wiretapping' coming 'over the next two weeks'

“I think you're going to find some very interesting items coming to the forefront over the next two weeks.”

· Fox News interview with Tucker Carlson · ×2

Deadline Mar 29, 2017 · 9 years, 5 months overdue

Nothing was ever submitted. On March 20, 2017 FBI Director James Comey and NSA Director Mike Rogers told the House Intelligence Committee there was no evidence supporting the claim. A Justice Department court filing on September 1, 2017 said both the FBI and the National Security Division 'have no records related to wiretaps as described by the March 4, 2017 tweets.' In an April 2019 Hannity call Trump said he had made the claim 'just on a little bit of a hunch and a little bit of wisdom maybe.'

№ 104 Broken

Handle DACA "with heart" and protect Dreamers

“We are going to deal with DACA with heart.”

· White House press conference · ×15

The administration announced the rescission of DACA on September 5, 2017 and rejected bipartisan legislative compromises in early 2018. On June 18, 2020 the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in DHS v. Regents that the rescission was arbitrary and capricious. A federal court ordered full reinstatement of the program in December 2020. No permanent protection for roughly 650,000 to 700,000 recipients was enacted.

№ 103 sometime next week Late

A replacement travel ban 'sometime next week'

“We'll be doing something very rapidly having to do with additional security for our country. You'll be seeing that sometime next week.”

· Joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe; repeated on February 16 at his first solo press conference · ×3

Nothing was signed the following week. A senior official then said 'later in the week'; on February 21 Sean Spicer said the order was 'finalized' and 'awaiting implementation.' A March 1 signing was scrapped so the February 28 joint address to Congress could 'breathe.' Executive Order 13780 was finally signed on March 6, 2017, about three weeks after the deadline.

№ 102 Late

'Phenomenal' tax announcement in two or three weeks

“We're going to be announcing something I would say over the next two or three weeks that will be phenomenal in terms of tax and developing our aviation infrastructure.”

· White House meeting with airline executives · ×2

Markets and the dollar jumped on the promise. Nothing came in two or three weeks. Eleven weeks later, on April 26, 2017, the White House released a single-page, roughly 200-word bullet outline of tax principles. Bloomberg noted on June 6, 2017 that it had been fifteen weeks since Trump promised an aviation infrastructure proposal in two weeks. Actual tax legislation was not signed until December 22, 2017.

№ 101 imminently — 'I will be... Never delivered

A 'major investigation into VOTER FRAUD' — evidence never came

“I will be asking for a major investigation into VOTER FRAUD, including those registered to vote in two states, those who are illegal and... even, those registered to vote who are dead.”

· Twitter, two days after telling congressional leaders that 3 to 5 million illegal votes cost him the popular vote · ×4

Deadline Feb 8, 2017 · 9 years, 7 months overdue

The commission was not created until May 11, 2017 and was disbanded on January 3, 2018 without ever issuing a report. Documents later obtained in litigation showed it had found no evidence of widespread fraud. Evidence for the 3 to 5 million claim was never produced by Trump, Sean Spicer or anyone else.

№ 100 Broken

Put America first and get tough with adversaries

“[paraphrase] From this day forward, it's going to be only America first.”

· Inaugural address, U.S. Capitol · ×100

The American Prospect and the House Majority Leader's office both catalogued outcomes at odds with the pledge, including the July 2018 Helsinki news conference in which Trump sided with Vladimir Putin's denial over U.S. intelligence findings on election interference, strained relations with NATO allies, and the withdrawal from northern Syria in October 2019 that left Kurdish partners exposed.

№ 99 Never delivered

"Insurance for everybody" in the Obamacare replacement

“We're going to have insurance for everybody. There was a philosophy in some circles that if you can't pay for it, you don't get it. That's not going to happen with us.”

· Interview with The Washington Post · ×3

No replacement plan providing universal coverage was ever produced. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the House-passed AHCA would increase the number of uninsured by 23 million by 2026. FactCheck.org reported the number of uninsured Americans rose by about 3 million during Trump's term, to roughly 28 million.

№ 98 Broken

"No new foreign deals" and foreign profits donated to the Treasury

“[paraphrase] I will sign no new foreign deals while in office — I turned down a $2 billion Dubai golf deal — and the Trump Organization will donate all profits from foreign government payments to the U.S. Treasury.”

· Trump Tower press conference, nine days before the inauguration, with a stack of folders presented as divestment documents · ×3

Trump never divested; he moved assets into a revocable trust he could draw from and his sons ran the company. Ethics experts noted the foreign-profits pledge excluded resorts and let Trump define "profit" himself, and that he already had two existing Dubai golf deals with the same developer. When the Trump Organization said in 2018 it had donated foreign profits, it refused to disclose the amount or any country-by-country breakdown; House Oversight Democrats demanded proof and got none.

№ 95 Partial

Save the Carrier jobs in Indianapolis

“[paraphrase] We're keeping 1,100 jobs at Carrier in Indiana that were going to Mexico.”

· Carrier plant visit, Indianapolis, Indiana · ×12

Carrier received up to $7 million in Indiana incentives to keep about 1,070 positions, roughly 300 of which were office jobs never slated to move. The company proceeded with moving its fan coil lines to Monterrey, Mexico, laying off about 340 workers in July 2017 and about 215 more in January 2018, roughly 500 jobs in total.