Midterms: How Trump Destroyed Obama's Legacy
From the Paris agreement to Cuba through the agreement with Iran, back to the most resounding scuttles.
Two years later some still assure it, if Donald Trump is president, it is because of Barack Obama. In 2011, the former President of the United States had humiliated the billionaire in public, imagining what the White House would look like if he were to take place there: a residence with swimming pool, "Hotel, Casino, Golf Course" decked out in 'an inscription in neon pink: The White House… According to advisers, Donald Trump would have decided that day to run for president.
In 2018, the White House did not undergo significant work on its facade, but Donald Trump is in power. And the president seems determined to define his term by demolishing the legacy of his predecessor.
In his first year, he attempted to reverse, repeal or correct 70 environmental rules or laws, 29 labor and finance laws, 19 dealing with immigration and 13 dealing with immigration. Back to the most resounding scuttles.
January 23, 2017 - Withdrawal of the TPP
Signed in 2015 by 12 Asia-Pacific countries, the Trans-Pacific Free Trade Treaty (TPP) had been negotiated for several years by the Obama administration. The agreement provided for the lifting of customs and non-tariff barriers. But the American president had judged the agreement of "horrible" for its impact on the employment of Americans. In 2018, Donald Trump is however considering a step backwards through a renegotiation of the terms of the agreement.
January 23, 2017 - Decree on abortion
Already suppressed by Bill Clinton, before being reinstated by George W. Bush, before being suppressed again by Barack Obama, President Donald Trump has reinstated a mechanism aimed at prohibiting the funding of international NGOs supporting abortion.
January 24, 2017 - Keystone XL relaunched
Donald Trump paved the way for the construction of a giant pipeline that should link Canadian oil to refineries in the Gulf of Mexico. Barack Obama had buried the project: "Transporting dirty crude oil to our country does not strengthen the energy security of the United States", had justified the former president.
Trump also approved the Dakota Access Pipeline project, the route of which was rejected in December by the Obama administration.
June 1, 2017 - withdrawal of the Paris Agreement
The declaration caused a global shock: Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris climate agreement to the chagrin of the 194 other signatory countries. "In order to fulfill my solemn duty to protect America and its citizens, the United States will withdraw from the Paris climate agreement," he said.
