100 Days Of Donald Trump: The Highs And Lows
On January 20, 2025, Chief Justice John Roberts swore in Donald Trump for a non-consecutive second term in the Capitol rotunda. In a Shakespearean turn of events, the former real estate developer pulled off a dramatic, almost inconceivable comeback. After becoming a Washington persona non-grata just three years ago, Donald Trump braved the storm and then some. Here’s a look back at 100 days of Donald Trump.
The 2.0 agenda was clear; Trump had received a strong mandate from the American public and he intended to enforce it, cacophonous critics notwithstanding. Therefore, it came as no surprise when a rejiggered, stoic Donald Trump wielded a sharp scythe very early into his second term.
The Good: 100 Days Of Donald Trump
Undocumented immigrants were the first casualty. In widespread enforcement, the Donald Trump administration began earmarked raids all over the country. Businesses that overlooked or wantonly ignored employee visa status saw immigration agents knock at their literal and metaphorical door. Those with a criminal record were adroitly apprehended and deported. Most countries cooperated and paid for repatriation flights, effectively paying obeisance to Trump. In a legally complicated move, Venezuelans and Salvadorians with gang-affiliations were sent to a prison in El Salvador.
While some immigrants have become the focal point of political commentary, illegal crossings are noticeably down. Axios reported last month that “Border crossings plunge to lowest levels in decades.”
The Bad: 100 Days Of Donald Trump
One of Trump’s strongest weapons is his prescience. His ability to read the room is unparalleled. He understands that his actions (intentionally so) generate heavy-duty political fodder for both his supporters and detractors. However, during the administration’s 100 days, there were misreads and misfires aplenty.
Following a mostly successful ‘honeymoon’ phase, the administration’s cracks surfaced when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the White House. A seemingly staid meeting escalated into an unpleasant shouting match when Zelensky expressed his frustration with the constant Russian renege. The now infamous meeting became the source of controversy, concurrently giving birth to a barrage of memes.
Then came ‘Signalgate.’ A group chat consisting of top United States national security leaders leaked when The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently added to it. Goldberg detailed the fiasco, recounting how “The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans.” As the fallout from ‘Signalgate’ continues, privacy concerns about using a third-party app for discussing sensitive/confidential information persist.
The Worst
On April 2, Trump announced “broad, reciprocal tariffs” against most countries. Dubbed as the “Liberation Day” the press conference held in the Rose Garden sent shockwaves across the world. Read more about our coverage on tariffs here.
Wallstreet and Mainstreet were equally spooked, with several trillions’ dollars evaporating from the stock market. Eventually, commonsense prevailed and Trump pigeonholed most of the tariffs. However, the China-American trade conundrum continues as the two economic superpowers wrangle it out, much to the chagrin of the average consumer and businesses everywhere.
Most economic experts agree that tariffs are a strong way to maintain soft-power and economic hegemony in the long run. Nevertheless, the short-term ramifications are way too large to ignore. Unless some dramatic changes take place, most expect that a debilitating economic downturn is in the offing.
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