10 ways Trump upended the world order in 2017

• Pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership

On Jan. 23, his first official workday in office, Trump pulled the United States out of a major trade pact negotiated by President Barack Obama with 11 countries that border the Pacific Ocean, calling his move "a great thing for the American worker." The other nations vowed to push ahead on the agreement without the U.S.

• Vowed to scrap NAFTA

The same day, the White House said Trump would renegotiate the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada to stop U.S. companies from moving plants to its neighbors — particularly Mexico — and eliminating American jobs. If a new accord could not be reached that is fairer to American workers and reduces the U.S. trade deficit, Trump said, he would withdraw from the deal. Both U.S. neighbors have resisted major changes, and the talks continue.

More: Trump makes it official: He will renegotiate NAFTA
• Imposed travel ban

Trump, in his first week in office, issued a travel ban on people from eight countries, including six that have Muslim-majority populations. Federal courts blocked the ban, the list of countries changed, and the Supreme Court approved the latest version, which affects Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia and Chad, while legal challenges continue. The ban has been decried by other countries around the world.


More: Supreme Court allows Trump travel ban to take full effect

• Battled NATO over money

In his first meeting with NATO allies in May, Trump scolded their “chronic underfunding” of the alliance and refused to explicitly endorse the mutual defense clause of the treaty. In June, Trump affirmed the U.S. commitment to aid any of the 28 NATO nations if attacked. He did so after other NATO leaders said they were prepared to maintain a collective self-defense even without American support.

• Pulled out of Paris climate accord

Trump ordered the government in June to stop implementing the Obama-era Paris climate agreement, which called for the U.S. and other nations to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to global warming. Trump, who has disputed a scientific consensus that human activity is causing higher temperatures, said he would be willing to renegotiate a deal "that's fairer" to the United States. Trump's actions, making the U.S. the lone holdout from the global accord, drew international condemnations from other leaders, who ruled out new talks.

More: U.S. withdrawing from Paris climate agreement, Trump announces
• Threatened nuclear war with North Korea

Trump used incendiary threats about war with North Korea in August that departed from the more restrained language other presidents have used and sparked international fears of a catastrophic conflict. After North Korea said ti would fire missiles in the direction of Guam, a U.S. territory in the Pacific, Trump responded that "North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States. They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen.” North Korea never followed through on its threat. Trump also traded unprecedented personal insults with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump called Kim “little rocket man" and “a sick puppy.” Kim called Trump "a dotard,” meaning senile.



Why would Kim Jong-un insult me by calling me "old," when I would NEVER call him "short and fat?" Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend - and maybe someday that will happen!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 12, 2017
• Repudiated the Iran nuclear deal

Trump refused in October to certify that Iran is complying with the 2015 agreement between Iran and six world powers that lifted international sanctions in return for limits on Iran’s nuclear program. Trump left it up to Congress whether to reimpose sanctions on Iran. The other countries who signed the deal with Iran — China, France, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom — condemned Trump's move and said they would continue to honor the accord.