Swift, groundbreaking, and disputable alterations: An inside look at Trump's initial 100 days in office.
In his inauguration speech, new president Donald Trump determined that America's decline was over and promised rapid change, setting the tone for his controversial presidency.
Fast forward 100 days, Trump has made a profound impact on the nation, transforming the federal workforce, economy, foreign policy, and immigration enforcement at breakneck speeds. Yet, his success is questionable, given his 41% approval rating in a recent CNN poll—the lowest for any president at this milestone.
Trump's administration barreled through his agenda, relying heavily on executive actions rather than signed legislation. However, pockets of frustration arose as two crucial issues — the ongoing war in Ukraine and stalemated trade talks with China — threaten to thwart his ambitions for swift deals.
Trump's team had aimed to push core policy priorities during the first two years of his second term. They had anticipated the need to act swiftly, with a condensed timeframe due to the upcoming congressional elections in 2026. The turmoil in the White House and Cabinet, characterized by staffing purges, screaming matches, and power struggles, returned despite attempts to avoid such chaos from his first term.
The discipline in this second term is attributed to lessons learned during the first one. Trump regretted not acting faster and was displeased with cautious advisors advising more caution. Rather than waiting for the right moment, everything came all at once.
It's a more chaotic operation, reflecting the turbulent nature of Trump's administration. Powerful figures like Steven Miller operate with wide remits to push through sweeping changes, while controversial decisions, such as remodeling the Oval Office in gold, have received criticism.
Foreign policy has been a focus area for Trump's second term, with him hosting various leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The ongoing Ukraine war and trade negotiations with China remain contentious issues, with Trump expressing frustration that deals are proving harder than expected.
In the face of declining approval ratings, the White House remains unfazed. They dismiss media polls as inaccurate reflections of Trump's support and continue to focus on fulfilling campaign promises ahead of midterm elections. However, the consequence of a possible Republican loss in the House could impair Trump's ability to make decisive policy changes.
Amidst political challenges, Trump still clings to hopes of a Nobel Peace Prize, claiming he deserves the recognition for his foreign policy efforts. Yet with battles over his legacy and successor looming on the horizon, the outcome of the 2026 elections and internal struggles within his administration remain significant obstacles to Trump's ambitious agenda.
Enrichment Data:
Overall:
President Donald Trump's second-term priorities and achievements during the first 100 days have focused on executive-driven policy shifts, funding changes, and legal battles over presidential authority. Below are the key areas:
1. Education Policy Overhauls
- Capping federal research funding: Implemented unilateral cuts to the National Institutes of Health's indirect cost reimbursements for universities, aiming to reduce taxpayer support for institutions perceived as promoting "leftist agendas." Critics warn this could endanger medical research, including cancer and Alzheimer's trials.
- Foreign gift disclosures: Enforced stricter reporting requirements for higher education institutions, mandating disclosures of foreign contracts or gifts exceeding $250,000 annually.
2. Climate and Science Funding Cuts
- NOAA budget reductions: Proposed a 25% cut to NOAA’s 2026 budget, targeting climate research, ocean laboratories, and cooperative institutes. An internal memo suggests eliminating the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR).
- FEMA restructuring: Established a review council to assess FEMA’s capabilities, though specific policy outcomes remain unclear.
3. Immigration and Trade Actions
- National emergency declaration: Imposed tariffs under a declared trade emergency to counter perceived foreign economic threats, aiming to reduce trade deficits and protect U.S. industries.
- Immigration focus: Continued emphasis on stricter immigration enforcement, with AP-NORC polling showing immigration as his highest-approval issue.
4. Legal Challenges and Executive Power
- Judicial confrontations: Over 150 executive orders on issues like diversity program rollbacks and spending cuts face lawsuits, testing the limits of Article II powers.
- Agency personnel removals: Attempted to fire officials at independent agencies, circumventing statutory removal protections.
Public Perception
- Approval ratings: 39% approve of Trump’s performance, with 58% disapproving. Partisan splits dominate views: most Republicans approve, while Democrats and independents lean negative.
- Policy priorities: A majority believe Trump is focusing on the wrong issues, though immigration remains a relative strength.
- The 100-day impact of President Donald Trump's second term has been characterized by swift, executive-driven policy shifts, with a significant focus on the restructuring of the federal workforce and immigration enforcement.
- The administration's rapid pace has been met with questionable success, as evidenced by Trump's low approval ratings of 41% in a recent CNN poll—the lowest for any president at this milestone.
- Despite setting ambitious targets for his second-term policy priorities, Trump's administration has encountered setbacks in areas like ongoing war-and-conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine, and policy-and-legislation challenges, such as stalemated trade talks with China.
- In an effort to drive through core policy priorities, Trump's team had planned to push their agenda during the first two years of his second term, but they faced internal struggles within the White House and Cabinet, characterized by staffing purges, screaming matches, and power struggles.
- Faced with the possibility of a Republican loss in the House during the midterm elections, Trump's ability to make decisive policy changes could be impaired, potentially leading to a slower pace in the latter half of his second term.
