Trump’s Second Term: 100 Days In – Promises Made, Actions Taken

April 29, 2025 — Washington, D.C.

President Donald J. Trump’s return to the White House has been nothing short of high-octane. In just 100 days, he has unleashed a barrage of executive orders, economic shifts, and policy moves that are reshaping the American landscape. But how does it all stack up to what he promised?

Let’s break down his major campaign pledges—and what’s actually happened so far.

Key Campaign Promises (2024)

1. “Close the border, finish the wall.”
2. “Drain the swamp — permanently.”
3. “Slash inflation and bring prices down.”
4. “Bring jobs back to America.”
5. “End the weaponization of government.”
6. “Rebuild America’s military strength.”
7. “Make America energy independent again.”
8. “Put America First—in trade, diplomacy, and defense.”

What’s Happened in the First 100 Days

Domestic Policy: Executive Power in Overdrive

Border Security
Trump restarted construction of the border wall and reactivated mass deportation programs. Illegal crossings have dropped significantly—delivering on his border promise.

Federal Workforce Cuts
Through the new Department of Government Efficiency (headed by Elon Musk), over 275,000 federal jobs have been cut. This fulfills his promise to “drain the swamp” by slashing what he called government bloat.

Legislative Wins (Kind of)
Trump has signed 5 new bills into law. The most significant: the Laken Riley Act, mandating detention for certain non-citizens charged with crimes. While his legislative impact is limited so far, he’s leaned heavily on executive action.

The Economy: A Mixed Bag of Relief and Risk

Inflation Down
Inflation has cooled to 2.4%, thanks to targeted price reductions in gas and prescription drugs—a big win on his promise to ease cost-of-living burdens.

Tariffs and Trade War?
Trump imposed a 10% universal import tariff, with higher tariffs on select nations and industries. This has fueled U.S. manufacturing optimism but rattled global markets and raised concerns about a coming trade war.

Jobs Promise
It’s too early to measure manufacturing job growth, but corporate tax incentives are rolling out to entice companies back to U.S. soil.

Foreign Policy: Isolation with Swagger

“America First” Redux
Trump has strained U.S. relations with traditional allies. He proposed annexing Greenland, floated making Canada the 51st state, and reduced U.S. support in NATO. While provocative, these steps are aligned with his bold “America First” doctrine.

Allies Nervous, Rivals Testing Boundaries
Global diplomacy is shaky. Leaders in Europe and Canada have expressed concern about Trump’s unpredictability, while China has begun bolstering its regional alliances in response.

Public Sentiment: Divided but Energized

Approval Rating: 42%
America remains polarized. Supporters praise him for acting swiftly and forcefully. Critics accuse him of authoritarian overreach. Over 200 lawsuits have already been filed against his executive orders.

Base Still Loyal
Trump’s base remains highly engaged, especially as he delivers on immigration, deregulation, and anti-globalist trade measures.

Promise vs. Performance Scorecard

End the weaponization of government	Status (100 Days In)
Finish the wall / close the border	In progress & showing results
Cut federal bureaucracy	Massive cuts already made
Lower inflation and prices	Notable drops in key areas
Bring back jobs	Too early to assess
Drain the swamp	Actionable cuts and reforms
Oil drilling expanded, but the results yet	No major DOJ/FBI shakeups yet
America First diplomacy	Aggressive shifts in alliances
Military revitalization	Budget proposal pending
Energy independence	Oil drilling expanded, but unclear results yet

The Road Ahead

President Trump’s second term has begun with the urgency of a man on a mission, rewriting rules and challenging convention. Whether his momentum leads to a restored American order or a fractured global standing remains to be seen.

But for now, one thing is clear: he’s checking off his promise list—one controversial move at a time.