Evolution of Trump's Presidency: Comparing HisFirst and Second Term in Office

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Here we are, hitting the 100-day mark since President Trump kicked off his second term, and last night he throws a huge rally in Michigan to celebrate. Check it out:

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TRUMP: We've smashed more records in three months than most administrations managed in four years, or even eight years. And we're only just getting warmed up, buddy!

NPR'S senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith breaks down what's changed since Trump's comeback.

TAMARA KEITH, BYLINE: When Trump first swung into the Oval Office in 2017, it was a wild card for Washington. But his second act's looking more like a boxing match compared to the first 100 days of Trump 2.0. And a big part of that comes down to Trump placing one hell of a bold stamp on the White House and the nation's power structures with break-neck speed. It started on inauguration day, as Staff Secretary Will Scharf ticked off executive order after executive order.

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SCHARF: President Trump's first move is to scrap 78 Biden-era executive actions, executive orders, and presidential memoranda.

KEITH: And you better believe he threw the party down in a sports arena packed with cheering fans.

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TRUMP: Could you imagine Joe doing this? I'm not so sure.

KEITH: And it's happened almost every day since. Trump's signing sprees have led to some dramatic shifts in policy across the government and a whole lot of revenge on his political foes. He even called shotgun on the name of the body of water that borders our southern states.

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TRUMP: You know what they called it? The Gulf of America. (laughing) Can you believe that?

KEITH: His first term saw him dominating the political conversation, but this time? He's got less resistance.

DAVID URBAN: He's loving every minute of it, too.

KEITH: David Urban, a longtime Trump ally, explains:

URBAN: The President's got a real handle on things now, more confidence in his abilities, in what needs to be done, and how to pull the levers and make it all happen.

KEITH: Doug Sosnik, a senior Clinton White House advisor, figured Trump'd transform Washington during his first term. But he wasn't expecting things to get this nutty.

SOSNIK: Now, let me tell you, I ain't seen Trump coming in and doing what he's doing now in a million years.

KEITH: He says the President's public feuds with the world have messed with America's peeps abroad. Trump's gone full throttle on his tariff ambitions, faster and further than the first time. Sosnik says there's a risk to overdoing things.

SOSNIK: A whole lot of action doesn't automatically make you successful.

KEITH: Trump's first term was all battles within his administration. 2.0? It's a bunch of Trump loyalists working with the man. Like the establishment Republicans who were supposed to be keeping tabs? Gone, gone, gone. Watch this bit froms back in Trump's first term when Arizona Senator Jeff Flake questioned what he was doing, right out in the open on the Washington Post.

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FLAKE: I think the Republican Party's in a crisis.

KEITH: But Flake and his fellow Republicans who felt the same way ended up bowing out while the rest of us got stuck with Trump's second shot. Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski's the rare exception still vocal in her opposition, but she's not alone at the table anymore. Don't believe us? Check out the numbers: Trump's approval rating at the 100-day mark's at an all-time low for any president in 80 years. And amid the mad rush to get everything done ASAP, some embarrassments have come up. Like the time Trump slapped tariffs on an island inhabited only by penguins. Or the time high-level national security officials got chatting about military attack plans on a group chat…with a prominent journalist invited along by accident. Elon Musk, brought on to cut the federal bureaucracy, admitted there'd be mistakes, but for now? Heads stay intact in the upper ranks. That's it for now, folks. Check back for more on Trump's upcoming adventures.

Tamara Keith, NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary.

Additional Insights:- The second term of Donald Trump's presidency witnesses increased reliance on executive orders to push through policies, as well as efforts to undo perceived liberal policies from his predecessor's administration.- Trump's second term sees less internal resistance to his policies within the administration, with a majority of loyalists and fewer establishment Republicans maintaining their roles.- The second term has been characterized by significant controversy, political polarization, and legal challenges to Trump's executive actions.- One key policy change is the increased use of executive orders and the swift implementation of policies prioritized in the "America First" agenda.- There is a risk associated with an aggressive approach to the presidency, short-term success may not guarantee long-term effectiveness.

The sharpie mark made by President Trump on a map, renaming the body of water that borders southern states, signifies a bold stamp he's placing on the nation's power structures.
Government transcripts provide insights into the flurry of executive orders implemented by President Trump in the first 100 days of his second term, many aimed at reversing Biden-era policies.
The extended four-year presidency has enabled President Trump to update his policy-and-legislation as per his 'America First' policy agenda, with fewer resistance and more confidence.
General news outlets, such as NPR, cover the impact of Donald Trump's second term, witnessing a more fractured Washington than the first 100 days of his presidency.
Crimes and injustices connected to Trump's administration have surfaced, with an accidental group chat between national security officials and a journalist discussing military attack plans.
In the realm of war-and-conflicts, trade, and politics, the presidency of Donald Trump continues to be a topic of intense debate and news coverage.