The following is a timeline of instances of extremism in the Trump administration in April 2018.
President Trump has opened the White House doors to extremism, not only consulting with hate groups on policies that erode our country’s civil rights protections but enabling the infiltration of extremist ideas into the administration’s rhetoric and agenda.
Once relegated to the fringes, the radical right now has a toehold in the White House.
Groups and individuals referenced in the list below are not associated with hate groups and extremist ideology unless indicated by a hate group profile.
Apr 4
Todd Johnson, Trump appointee at the Department of Defense, resigns after revelations that he posted “birther” conspiracy theories
Apr 5
President Trump claims “millions and millions of people” are voting illegally and that women in an immigrant caravan traveling to the U.S. “are being raped at numbers never seen before”
Apr 9
John Bolton, former chairman of anti-Muslim Gatestone Institute, begins work as national security adviser
Apr 11
Former Trump adviser and one-time executive chairman of Breitbart News Stephen Bannon pitches White House on plan to undermine Russia probe
Apr 11
Federal judicial nominee Wendy Vitter refuses to say whether she agreed with landmark civil rights case Brown v. Board of Education
Apr 17
The Supreme Court declares a law subjecting immigrants to deportation for some “crimes of violence” is unconstitutionally vague
Anti-Immigrant
Hate Group
Apr 18
President Trump tweets that “sanctuary areas” are a “crime infested & breeding concept,” a talking point of the president of anti-immigrant hate group Federation for American Immigration Reform, Dan Stein
Anti-Black
Apr 19
President Trump tweets that “human trafficking is worse than it’s ever been in the history of the world,” overlooking the transatlantic slave trade
Anti-Immigrant
Apr 19
Kris Kobach, former vice chair of President Trump’s disbanded voter fraud commission, is found in contempt of court
Anti-Immigrant
Apr 23
New reports reveal that the U.S. Border Patrol faked data that showed a 73% rise in assaults against agents
Anti-Immigrant
Hate Group
Apr 24
Department of Homeland Security announces it will end TPS status for 9,000 Nepalis, long the wish of anti-immigrant hate group Center for Immigration Studies
Anti-Immigrant
Apr 24
Federal judge rules DACA must stay in place and that the Trump administration must resume accepting applications
Anti-Muslim
Apr 25
The Supreme Court hears arguments on Trump’s third Muslim ban
Anti-Immigrant
Apr 26
Department of Health and Human Services says it has lost track of 1,475 migrant children taken into custody at the U.S.-Mexico border
Anti-Muslim
Hate Group
Apr 26
Former CIA Director Mike Pompeo, who has ties to anti-Muslim hate group ACT for America, is confirmed as secretary of state
Anti-Immigrant
Apr 28
President Trump asks if “there are Hispanics in the room” before demanding a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border
Anti-Immigrant
Apr 30
President Trump’s pick to lead ICE, Thomas Homan, who touted surge in immigration arrests and allegedly charged his employees with spreading false information, steps down as acting director