Trump's First 100 Days: Promises Kept, Promises Broken

The first 100 days of Trump's return to office have been a flurry of activity, with a Republican-controlled Congress backing his moves. Trump has made significant changes, but the long-term effects are still uncertain. Some of his executive orders are just starting points for future actions. For instance, he declared an energy emergency on Day 1, but the benefits won't be seen until next year. This is just one example of how Trump's promises often clash with each other. He wants to lower living costs but also plans to impose tariffs on foreign goods, which will likely increase prices. Some of his promises are still up in the air. Trump has made progress on controlling the border. The number of people trying to cross illegally from Mexico dropped sharply during Biden's last year and has continued to fall under Trump. However, there are concerns about the methods used. Many people have been deported without proper due process. The case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia highlights this issue. He was deported to a Salvadoran prison despite having no criminal record and no hearing to determine if he's a gang member. This raises questions about the fairness of Trump's immigration policies. Trump has also taken steps to reduce energy bills, but the results are not yet clear. He promised to cut energy costs by half to three-quarters within 12 to 18 months. However, he has also hedged his bets, saying that even if his plan doesn't work out, he'll still have lowered costs. This approach shows Trump's willingness to make bold promises, even if the outcomes are uncertain. He has also imposed tariffs on foreign goods, which has caused the stock market to fluctuate. Trump seems more tolerant of market chaos than he was in his first term.

One of Trump's promises that hasn't been kept is ending the war between Russia and Ukraine. He claimed he could settle the conflict merely by winning the election, but this has not happened. He has also promised ambitious tax cuts, but these will require Congress to pass legislation. With thin Republican majorities in both the House and Senate, this could be a challenge. Trump has also gone after universities, threatening to cut funding to those that don't comply with his demands. This includes combating antisemitism, taking on diversity programs, and ridding campuses of foreign students he considers hostile to American values. He has also targeted cultural institutions, halting diversity programs and purging references to diversity in federal communications. This effort has extended deep into cultural institutions and well beyond federal hiring and workplace practices. Trump has also promised to roll back transgender rights. He has signed executive orders to ban transgender athletes from girls' and women's teams and asked the Supreme Court to rule against lower courts that have blocked his attempt to remove transgender troops from the military. He has also pardoned those involved in the January 6 riot at the U. S. Capitol, despite initially denouncing the violence. This shows a shift in his stance on the event and those involved. Finally, Trump has gone after environmental protections, signing executive orders to favor the production of oil, natural gas, and coal. However, the impact of these orders is still unclear.

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