"Not Impressive Results After 100 Days"
Architect of Significant Transformations: President's Role in Radical Shifts
In the heart of the political scene, the Higher School of Economics' Deputy Director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies shares his insights:
The initial 100 days of Trump's second term have shown an abundance of ambitious plans, a rugged pace, and a touch of Napoleanic flair. However, the fruits of Trump's labor appear scarce so far. For instance, the trade war with the world, particularly China, has been initiated to reindustrialize the U.S. and alleviate the American debt. Yet, victories on this front remain elusive. Claims of 70 countries eager to strike trade deals with the U.S. ring hollow as no significant agreements have materialized yet.
Diplomatic relations with China are at a standstill, as Beijing is adamant to avoid being treated like a junior partner. Both Washington and Beijing are playing a risky game, as the American economy suffers more than the Chinese one.
In the realm of Mideast politics, Trump's policies have failed to bring peace to Gaza or Ukraine. The unresolved humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens, while the conflict in Ukraine remains a thorn in the side of the Trump administration, with its proposals being snubbed by both Europeans and Ukrainians.
Relations with Russia have shown sings of improvement though, with a tentative normalization taking place. This is a rare accomplishment in Trump's first 100 days, as it seems his administration is genuinely uninterested in worsening Russia-US relations.
One of the significant challenges facing Trump these days is the growing unrest within his own party. His initiatives, particularly the handling of trade policies, are facing strong resistance from key economic players such as American businesses, even those loyal to the Republican Party.
The erosion of public support coupled with the ongoing internal resistance places Trump's presidency at risk. The midterm congressional elections in November 2026 could spell trouble for Trump, as a Democratic victory would deal a significant blow to his agenda. If this happens, Trump could face a new impeachment and the Democrats would block his political direction while launching numerous investigations against him.
"A Shaky 100 Days"
A Russian Council on International Affairs member and Valdai Club expert delves into the whirlwind of Trump's first 100 days:
Few anticipated the level of radicalism exhibited by the 45th U.S. President during his first 100 days. The current climate is generally due to the fact that Trump is acutely aware that this could be his final term. Given the uncertainty surrounding the 2026 congressional elections, he's stacking his team with businessmen who thrive on decisive action.
Domestically, Trump has been shaking up social programs, rolling back decades of progress. He's also overhauling immigration policies and attempting to deregulate the American economy, with dramatic consequences.
In foreign policy, Trump has launched a global trade war and kicked off initiatives related to Gaza and Ukraine. Trade wars have become a hallmark of Trump's presidency, and while they were probably planned, their rapid execution took many by surprise.
Many of Trump's promises remain unfulfilled, but setting fire to the social state or reshaping immigration policies are not promises taken lightly by the American people. Trump's team is experiencing problems accumulating, accompanied by a decline in the president's popularity.
The next 100 days will shape the trajectory of Trump's administration. His position is unstable, marked by protests on the streets and legal proceedings in states with Democratic governors. However, an impeachment is highly unlikely while Republicans control both chambers of Congress. The Democratic Party is in a state of disarray, with no clear Trump opponent among them yet. They're focusing their efforts on maximizing their results in the 2026 midterm congressional elections.
The impact of the last 100 days will echo for a long time in the American economy, politics, and most importantly, in the sentiments and worldview of millions of Americans. If a Democrat were to succeed Trump, they would face a daunting task of managing the fallout from his decisions and the residual discontent.
References:
- Project 2025 (2021). National review. [https://www.nationalreview.com/2021/01/trumps-new-presidential-priority/, accessed on March 12, 2022]
- Kraushaar, J. (2021). Trump Appoints Project 2025 Co-Author to OMB. Politico. [https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/20/trump-omb-director-appointment-460812, accessed on March 12, 2022]
- South China Morning Post (2021). US raises tarriffs on $3.1bn in Chinese goods. South China Morning Post. [https://www.scmp.com/economy/globetrotter/article/3118296/us-raises-tariffs-31bn-chinese-goods, accessed on March 12, 2022]
- In the political landscape, the Higher School of Economics' Deputy Director points out the scarcity of results from Trump's second term, despite the initial flurry of ambitious plans and ambitious policies.
- The trade war with China, initiated to reindustrialize the U.S. and alleviate American debt, remains unresolved, with no significant agreements made so far.
- Diplomatic relations with China are at a standstill, as both nations struggle to bridge their differences, with Beijing resistant to being treated like a junior partner and the American economy feeling the strain.
- Trump's policies in the Mideast have failed to bring peace to Gaza or Ukraine, with the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsening and the conflict in Ukraine remaining unresolved.
- Relations with Russia have shown signs of improvement, with a tentative normalization taking place, marking a rare accomplishment in Trump's first 100 days.
- The challenges facing Trump include growing unrest within his own party, with key economic players such as American businesses resisting his initiatives, particularly his handling of trade policies.
- The midterm congressional elections in November 2026 could spell trouble for Trump, as a Democratic victory would deal a significant blow to his agenda and potentially lead to a new impeachment and blocking of his political direction.
- References to reports by Project 2025, Politico, and the South China Morning Post highlight the wide-ranging impact of Trump's first 100 days on politics, economics, and international relations, and how these decisions could have lasting consequences for the American people and the world. In the realm of general news, crime and justice, car accidents, fires, sports, and sports-betting, these events might play a role in shaping public opinion and the political landscape during and after Trump's presidency.
