Trump’s First 100 Days: A Look at Tariffs, DOGE, and Diet Coke in 100 Words | US News
Donald Trump has been in the Oval Office for only a few months, yet both his supporters and critics have witnessed many significant moments.
Here, Sky News’ US correspondents recap the past 100 days in 100 words…
1. America First
This two-word phrase captures his commitment to focusing on US interests in both domestic and international policies, highlighting nationalism, protectionism, and minimizing global intervention.
2. Fest
Trump announced plans for a second state visit to the UK later this year, referring to the King’s upcoming events as a “fest”.
3. Term
He insists he’s “not joking” about pursuing a third term, even though it’s constitutionally unfeasible.
4. DOGE
The newly established Department of Government Efficiency, helmed by Elon Musk, draws its name from a meme and aims to trim down unnecessary government spending.
5. Protest
Many Americans dissatisfied with Trump 2.0 have taken to protesting, with thousands gathering in demonstrations nationwide.
6. Shape
He’s reportedly gone from 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 240 pounds during his 2023 New York charges to 6 feet 3 inches and 224 pounds, according to his physician’s 2025 report.
7. Popularity
At the 100-day mark, Trump’s approval rating stands at 44%, per a Fox News poll, compared to Biden’s 54%, Obama’s 62%, and George W. Bush’s 63%.
8. Taiwan
When asked if the US policy is that China won’t take Taiwan by force, he commented, “I never comment on that. I don’t want to ever put myself in that position,” providing less reassurance than desired.
9. Truth
Utilizing his own social media platform, Truth Social, he connects directly with audiences, shaping his narrative as the truth.
10. Tariff
He calls it “the most beautiful word in the dictionary”, although it can also be viewed as unappealing. Currently, most countries face a 10% ‘baseline’ tariff.
11. Media
Continuing his campaign against traditional media, labeling it “fake news”, the White House has sought to replace established outlets with newer, more favorable media.
12. Eggs
Trump frequently mentions eggs. With prices surging in the past year, he has made unfounded claims about reducing costs.
13. ICE
Trump has expanded Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s role to enforce stricter immigration policies, including mass deportations, stirring considerable legal and political debate.
14. Judges
He has criticized judges who ruled against his policies, calling one a “radical left lunatic” and suggesting impeachment for others.
15. Climate
One of his second term’s initial actions was to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, replicating a move he made during his first term.
16. Gender
Trump promotes a binary perspective, recognizing only male and female and implementing policies that restrict transgender rights, including banning trans individuals from military service and sports.
17. Gulf
Trump signed an executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, claiming it honors ‘American greatness’.
18. Golf
After busy weeks in Washington, Trump has continued his Florida weekends, enjoying 18 holes of golf, with his “frequent victories” even mentioned in his annual medical review.
19. DEI
This acronym stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs aimed at improving access to jobs and ensuring fair treatment for marginalized groups. Trump has launched an offensive against DEI initiatives.
20. Education
Trump has dismantled the Department of Education and declared war on some of America’s leading universities.
21. Cabinet
The 21 cabinet members express admiration for Trump during televised meetings.
22. Yippy
According to Trump, people have “been getting a little yippy”, explaining his abrupt pause on global tariffs in early April.
23. China
Trump’s trade conflict with the superpower has had significant repercussions for global supply chains.
24. Sharpie
Trump’s fondness for his Sharpie pen has become emblematic of his extensive use of executive orders.
25. Signal
This messaging app gained attention when senior security officials included a journalist in discussions about air strikes in Yemen.
26. Influencers
The White House has opened its press pool to “new media”, often including conservative influencers who support the president.
27. Constitution
Critics accuse Trump of blatantly disregarding the US Constitution to pursue his deportation aims.
28. Access
Trump has frequently conducted extensive Q&A sessions with the press in the Oval Office, a notable shift from Biden’s approach.
29. Penguins
Trump imposed tariffs on inhabited islands near Antarctica, including remote locations merely home to penguins.
30. Drill
His mantra “Drill, baby, drill” encapsulates his push for increased fossil fuel extraction despite climate commitments.
31. Minerals
A minerals deal with Ukraine is central to Trump’s negotiations aimed at resolving the war. Without security guarantees, Zelenskyy hesitates to sign.
32. Trans
His attempts to eliminate “gender ideology” have seen him barring transgender individuals from military service and restricting transgender healthcare for minors.
33. Margarita
This cocktail became pivotal in a deportation debate when photos emerged of a wrongly deported man drinking with a Democratic Senator in El Salvador.
34. Gaza
An AI-generated video of Trump’s vision for Gaza surfaced online, intended as satire, but highlighted his perspective on the Middle East.
35. Witkoff
Unexpectedly, he has turned to an old golfing and real estate friend as a versatile envoy, leading negotiations in the Middle East and with Russia.
36. Leavitt
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has emerged as a notable figure during Trump’s 100 days, known for her vocal challenges to the media and skilled question navigation during daily briefings.
37. Tattoos
A significant number of men deported to El Salvador under Trump’s administration are marked with tattoos. Immigration authorities use certain tattoos to identify gang members.
38. Bogies
Trump removed the resolute desk from the Oval Office for refurbishment just days after Elon Musk’s four-year-old son, X, reportedly picked his nose and wiped it on the historic piece.
39. Biden
Trump has consistently blamed his predecessor for various issues, at times mentioning Biden over six times in a single day.
40. CECOT
The maximum security prison in El Salvador, where the administration has deported numerous alleged gang members.
41. Stenographers
Trump’s frequent verbosity is pushing White House stenographers to their limits, with him speaking more than 22,000 words on inauguration day.
42. Kai
His 17-year-old granddaughter, an aspiring golfer, has been enhancing her social media presence, amassing millions of followers, positioning herself as an influential PR force targeting Gen Z.
43. Tesla
For a day, Trump stepped into the role of car salesman, promoting Tesla’s model by purchasing a red model X on the White House driveway.
44. Courts
Trump’s administration is testing the legal system’s boundaries at every turn. Conflicts with the Supreme Court appear to be his favored method of advancing his agenda.
45. Churchill
He returned a bust of Sir Winston Churchill to the Oval Office after it had been removed during Biden’s presidency.
46. Congress
Or rather, the absence of one. Trump has issued more executive orders in his first 100 days than any previous president, without having passed any legislation through Congress.
47. Inauguration
For the first time since 1985, the inauguration of the 47th President was held inside the Capitol due to Washington’s freezing conditions.
48. Democrats
The Democratic Party is struggling to formulate a response to Trump 2.0, as they need a unified strategy for the midterms and a potential retake of the White House in 2028.
49. Putin
Trump has rekindled US communication with President Putin, directly addressing him as Vladimir in a Truth Social post.
50. JD
JD Vance has assumed a more significant role than many of his predecessors, openly criticizing European allies, challenging Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, receiving hostility in Greenland, and visiting Pope Francis just hours before the pontiff’s passing.
51. Canada
He frequently targets Canada with jabs, enforcing tariffs and insisting it should become the 51st state of the US, inadvertently inspiring heightened Canadian nationalism.
52. Miracle
A face-to-face meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy at the Pope’s funeral was deemed a miracle and produced a memorable image of them seated just feet apart in St Peter’s Basilica.
53. Sleepy
Trump has appeared to fall asleep on at least two occasions: in the National Cathedral after his inauguration and at Pope Francis’s funeral in Rome.
54. Bruising
Visible bruising on Trump’s right hand has been explained as a result of the numerous handshakes he performs.
55. Autopen
Trump has repeatedly condemned his predecessor for employing an autopen to sign documents.
56. Greenland
Home to around 56,000 residents and rich in minerals, Trump has his eyes on Greenland, asserting its importance for national security.
57. Schedule
Trump’s busy lineup of engagements around the 100-day milestone reflects his team’s recognition of this period as critical for both performance assessment and public relations.
58. Aviation
Federal workforce reductions impacted the Federal Aviation Administration, particularly highlighted following a devastating plane crash in Washington that resulted in 67 fatalities.
59. Super Bowl
Trump’s limited travel included a trip to New Orleans, where he made history as the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl.
60. Recession
Leading economists have cautioned that the market upheaval triggered by Trump’s extensive tariffs could precipitate a recession.
61. Pardon
Trump granted clemency to over 1,500 individuals charged or convicted in connection with the January 6 storming of the Capitol.
62. Retribution
From revoking clearance for former presidents to stripping critics of their security details and challenging judges involved in investigations against him, Trump appears to be on a path of retribution.
63. King
He has expressed affection for King Charles, feeling flattered by the invitation for an unprecedented second state visit to the UK.
64. Hegseth
Trump has publicly supported Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, despite his involvement in sharing military comments on at least two Signal group chats.
65. Bessent
Trump’s treasury secretary, Scott, alleviated market fears by stating a trade conflict with China isn’t tenable and that de-escalation is expected. Many perceived this as America surrendering.
66. Volatility
This theme persists for Trump, stirring anxiety in financial markets, particularly concerning tariffs.
67. Voice of America
The Trump administration attempted to shut down this global broadcaster, citing a “leftist bias”. A judge intervened to halt this plan.
68. Nobel
Trump has made no secret of his aspirations for the Nobel Peace Prize, discussing it when Norway’s premier visited, as a Norwegian committee makes the final decision.
69. Diet Coke
He reinstated a Diet Coke button in the Oval Office, using it to order drinks at his desk.
70. Melania
The President and First Lady continue to live largely separate lives but unite for occasional public appearances, such as the Pope’s funeral and the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.
71. Town hall
Recent town hall meetings, where Congress members engage with constituents, have been fraught, as Republican lawmakers face backlash over cuts to federal services and social programs.
72. Musk
Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest person, has become Trump’s right-hand man, leading the Department of Government Efficiency and boasting about significant cuts to federal costs.
73. NPR/PBS
The Trump administration prepared a memo directed at Congress to eliminate nearly all funding for the US’s public broadcasters, including National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service – home of Sesame Street.
74. McGregor
Trump hosted Conor McGregor at the White House on St Patrick’s Day, three months after the Irish fighter was found liable for sexual assault in Dublin.
75. Harvard
Trump has threatened to cut billions in funding to Harvard unless the university aligns with his demands, including the incorporation of “diverse” viewpoints into its education. Harvard has since filed a lawsuit.
76. Markets
His sweeping tariffs caused a $2.5 trillion drop in US stock markets; the subsequent pause in tariffs led to an unprecedented surge in market activity rarely seen since World War II.
77. Hollywood
Trump has designated actors Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone as ‘Special Ambassadors’ to ‘fix’ Hollywood, which he deems “very troubled”, aiming to boost American film production investment.
78. Age
Trump holds the record as the oldest person ever elected president. He turns 79 in June, and reports suggest he may share a military parade event with the armed forces.
79. Gold
The Oval Office has undergone a transformation over the last 100 days, with golden accents and decorations giving it a regal feel reminiscent of a royal court, or Mar-a-Lago.
80. Evangelical
Trump has rallied the Christian right in America, establishing a faith office within the White House to “protect religious liberty”, led by televangelist Paula White.
81. Bishop
Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde confronted Trump and VP JD Vance during a prayer service at Washington National Cathedral, urging the administration to show compassion towards the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, and refugees.
82. Marjorie
Referring to Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor-Greene, she serves as a figurehead for the Make America Great Again movement, and is a loyal proponent of Trumpian politics, evidenced by her recent confrontations, including a notable incident with Sky News’ Martha Kelner.
83. Deportation
The administration has expedited deportations by circumventing judges and employing dated wartime laws to remove individuals without due legal process, raising concerns of a constitutional crisis.
84. Education
Trump signed an executive order aimed at “facilitating” the closure of the Department of Education, assigning educational control back to individual states.
85. Kennedy
Referring to Robert F. Jr., Trump’s health secretary and former presidential challenger has polarized opinions with his critiques of “Big Food” and unsubstantiated claims linking vaccines to autism.
86. Kennedy
Trump reorganized the Kennedy Center’s board, replacing members with those more ideologically aligned with him. This led to cancellations from artists like Issa Rae and the Broadway show Hamilton in protest.
87. Kennedy
Trump signed an order to release all remaining documents related to JFK’s assassination in 1963, though none appeared to validate any conspiracy theories.
88. Bunny
One of the more unusual sights during the past 100 days involved Trump paying homage to Pope Francis while standing next to someone dressed as the Easter Bunny during a White House event.
89. Science
Trump’s orders aimed at reducing “waste” and “inefficiencies” have led to the erasure of vast amounts of scientific data from government websites, impacting research on public health, climate change, and extreme weather.
90. AF1
Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with Boeing over delays in updating Air Force One, stating that the current fleet has been operational since 1990.
91. Space
Trump provocatively suggested that two astronauts stuck in space for eight months might “fall in love” and commented on a female astronaut’s weightless “wild hair”, later taking credit when SpaceX safely returned them to Earth.
92. TikTok
The social media platform was banned in the US for a total of 12 hours in January; Trump has since allowed more time for its owner ByteDance to find a buyer.
93. Liberation
He proclaimed April 2 as ‘Liberation Day’, marking the rollout of his tariff strategy aimed at boosting manufacturing and diminishing America’s trade deficit.
94. Zelenskyy
His fluctuating stance toward the Ukrainian leader, from a public argument in the Oval Office to a conciliatory meeting at the Pope’s funeral, significantly alters longstanding global alliances.
95. Barron
The President’s youngest son, Barron, has sparked multiple viral moments in the past 100 days, including a clip of his 5-year-old self declaring “I like my suitcase”, which spiraled in popularity on TikTok, and contributing to his father’s appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast.
96. Mar-a-Lago
In the 14 weekends since his inauguration, Trump has spent nine at Mar-a-Lago, his upscale club in Palm Beach, Florida – referring to it as “the southern White House”.
97. Petrol
The health of the US economy is frequently evaluated by petrol prices. Trump inaccurately claimed prices had dropped to $1.98 per gallon in the concluding week of his first 100 days, while experts noted a national average of $3.17 per gallon.
98. Starmer
Despite their opposing political views, Trump described the UK’s Prime Minister Starmer as a “special man” during a visit to the White House, claiming they share a good relationship.
99. Pope
The Pope’s funeral marked Trump’s first international trip of his second term.
100. Trump 100
The Sky News podcast, with 100 episodes released and more to follow.