Trump’s First 100 Days: A Swift and Impactful Beginning

WASHINGTON—Following his return to the White House, President Donald Trump has introduced a series of executive actions and major policy shifts, making his initial 100 days one of the most impactful beginnings to a presidential term in recent U.S. history.

As the 47th president, Trump is revisiting pivotal goals from his first term that were hindered due to the Russia investigation, nationwide Black Lives Matter protests, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

With renewed fervor, Trump is concentrating on the fundamental issues that characterized his Make America Great Again agenda: border security, tackling China’s unfair trade practices, and boosting domestic energy production.

On these fronts, the president has implemented unexpected measures, such as a comprehensive tariff strategy affecting all global trading partners and funding El Salvador to host illegal immigrant gang members.

Trump has eclipsed President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s record of 99 executive orders in his first 100 days, potentially positioning himself as one of the most transformative presidents in reshaping Washington.

Supporters praise Trump’s early days back in the Oval Office as a revival of American values and strength, while critics denounce what they perceive as overreach and disorder.

Recognizing that early achievements are crucial for momentum, Trump has swiftly advanced both domestic and foreign initiatives.

As he marks the 100-day milestone of his second term, let’s explore his significant actions to date.

Border and Immigration

One of Trump’s most significant actions was an immediate crackdown on illegal immigration. He launched mass deportations and substantially reduced the influx of migrants at the southern border, measures that garnered widespread voter support.

These actions included declaring a national emergency, deploying troops to the border, reinstating the Remain in Mexico policy, ending “catch-and-release,” resuming border wall construction, designating criminal cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, and abolishing birthright citizenship.

Some of these measures have since faced legal challenges.

Furthermore, in February, Trump imposed tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China in response to illegal immigration and fentanyl issues originating from those nations.

Economy and Trade

Inflation saw a decline in March, driven by falling gas prices. However, anxiety is rising over the economy, particularly in relation to trade policies, eroding consumer confidence.

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Trump has imposed tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners, claiming they have taken advantage of the country for decades.

This move triggered stock market volatility, erasing trillions of dollars in market value and fueling concerns among millions observing their retirement savings diminish.

Trump urged Americans to remain patient, asserting that while there will be short-term economic pain, long-term benefits will follow.

At the core of his stringent trade policy lies a noteworthy fact: In 2024, the U.S. recorded a $1.2 trillion trade deficit, the largest in the world.

Spanish economist Daniel Lacalle informed The Epoch Times that the substantial trade deficit and growing national debt highlight the long-standing unfair foreign trade practices the U.S. has endured, including tariff and non-tariff barriers.

The administration maintained a baseline tariff of 10 percent on all trading partners but suspended reciprocal tariffs on all except China for 90 days as negotiations for trade deals with 90 countries are underway.

US–China Relations

Trump’s foreign policy in his second term is centered around confronting the Chinese communist regime.

He has enacted extensive tariffs of 145 percent on Chinese imports with the goal of ending Beijing’s unfair trade practices.

According to Christopher Balding, a senior fellow at the UK-based think tank Henry Jackson Society, Trump’s tariff strategy aims to establish a global trade bloc to economically isolate China.

He is also reallocating military resources from Europe and the Middle East to focus on countering Beijing’s geopolitical ambitions, Balding stated.

Just weeks into his second term, Panama became the first Latin American nation to exit China’s Belt and Road Initiative due to pressure from Washington. A U.S.-led group also announced plans to acquire Panama Canal ports from a Hong Kong company—another strategic success, although the deal is pending.

While Trump is optimistic about reaching a trade deal with Beijing, Balding emphasizes that Washington’s efforts to weaken China’s global influence will persist, regardless of the outcome of negotiations.

Energy

Trump has aggressively moved to transform the United States’ energy sector. On his Inauguration Day alone, he signed six executive actions aimed at “unleashing American energy,” including a declaration of a national energy emergency. He has maintained this pace since.

The president has pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accords, eliminated the “EV mandate,” opened vast areas in Alaska for fossil fuel extraction, eased restrictions on the coal industry, repealed numerous Environmental Protection Agency regulations, and removed climate change mentions from public sites.

Additionally, he preempted what his administration calls state and local regulatory “overreach,” laid off or terminated hundreds of federal agency employees, revoked energy efficiency standards for appliances, and lifted the expired LNG pause.

This summary highlights a fraction of a much larger initiative. The essence of the president’s actions aims for a comprehensive shift in energy and environmental policies across the government, emphasizing deregulation designed to dismantle the Biden administration’s focus on decarbonization.

The outcomes of these actions depend heavily on how quickly Congress can implement long-awaited permitting reforms, alongside global oil and gas market dynamics.

Foreign Policy

In a flurry of diplomatic initiatives, Trump has initiated several negotiations aimed at resolving conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza while taking a tough stance on Iran’s nuclear aspirations before starting talks.

Trump has resumed direct discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which had been frozen for four years.

“My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier. That’s who I want to be,” Trump declared during his inauguration speech on January 20.

DEI and Education

Trump has promptly targeted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs as part of his agenda.

While DEI advocates argue that such programs help rectify historic injustices faced by racial minorities, Trump and his administration assert that DEI violates civil rights laws by promoting race-based discrimination.

On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order aimed at terminating DEI initiatives throughout the federal government. Subsequent executive actions broadened this initiative, zeroing in on DEI influences over university accreditation standards and federal contracts.

Trump also ordered the abolition of DEI programs in both K-12 and higher education. An April 3 letter from the Department of Education set an April 24 deadline for states to certify that DEI is not being implemented in schools. A federal judge intervened and blocked that measure ahead of the deadline.

The administration has sought leverage over federal funding allocated to universities and public schools.

Columbia University was the first institution to receive a demand from the administration to address anti-Semitism or face the loss of federal funding; it complied.

In contrast, Harvard, confronted with a similar demand to tackle anti-Semitism and eliminate DEI, cited academic freedom in its rejection and subsequently lost $2 billion in federal funding. The legal battle is ongoing.

Jonathan Williams, president and chief economist of the American Legislative Exchange Council, conveyed to The Epoch Times that Trump’s order seeks to complete “the unfinished business of Ronald Reagan, who aimed to eliminate the department back in the 1980s.”

DOGE

As part of an extensive government overhaul, Trump established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), appointing Elon Musk as a special adviser to spearhead the initiative.

Despite its title, DOGE is not a conventional Cabinet-level department; it is a temporary entity set to conclude on July 4, 2026.

So far, DOGE reports that $160 billion has been saved through asset sales, contract terminations, and other measures, falling short of its ambitious $1 trillion first-year target.

The rapidity and boldness of Musk’s strategy have faced substantial criticism from Democrats and the media, rendering DOGE one of the most contentious aspects of Trump’s first 100 days. Reports indicate that over 120,000 federal workers across 30 agencies have been laid off since Trump assumed office.

Labor unions and various other groups have initiated lawsuits against DOGE, particularly concerning its access to sensitive federal information. In early April, the Fourth Circuit permitted DOGE to access sensitive data from three agencies while maintaining a directive to restrict access to Social Security Administration data. Later that month, a federal judge in Maryland extended this prohibition.

Following a marked decline in Tesla’s revenue and profits in the first quarter, Musk announced plans to reduce his involvement with DOGE in May.

Legal Battles

Trump’s agenda has encountered over 100 lawsuits, with numerous cases testing the limits between judicial and executive powers.

States and external groups have sought to challenge Trump’s immigration measures, DOGE, extensive layoffs within the executive branch, and sweeping spending halts, among other issues.

Simultaneously, the justices have discussed the extent to which they should grant requests for emergency relief, particularly concerning Trump’s deportations under the Alien Enemies Act. Both liberal and conservative members of the court have expressed strong objections, indicating that some of their colleagues may have overstepped judicial authority.

Health

In his second term, Trump is prioritizing children’s health, chronic illnesses, and food safety, significantly influenced by his choice of Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Kennedy has implemented significant changes within the HHS, eliminating tens of thousands of jobs and shifting the agency’s focus. He is advocating for bans on artificial dyes and wants to limit the use of food stamps to exclude non-nutritious foods and beverages.

“I want to establish a timeline within a year, where we can start to share preliminary findings,” Bhattacharya remarked on April 22.

What’s Next?

As he concludes his first 100 days, Trump is intensifying his domestic agenda, with tax cuts at the forefront.

Unlike his first term, where he encountered resistance from certain Republican lawmakers and often clashed with GOP leaders like House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Trump appears to be collaborating more effectively with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune.

In April, Congress passed a budget plan, paving the way for Republican leaders to construct a comprehensive bill addressing various Trump initiatives in defense, energy, immigration, and tax cuts.

GOP leaders in both houses will need to negotiate and secure passage of Trump’s legislative package by the August recess.

Trump believes that his tax cuts will drive an economic and stock market surge, helping to alleviate the discomfort caused by the tariffs.

Recently, he proposed a new income tax cut for individuals earning under $200,000 annually.

“When the tariffs take effect, many individuals’ income taxes will be notably reduced, perhaps even completely eliminated. The primary focus will be on those earning less than $200,000 a year,” Trump posted on Truth Social on April 27.