President Donald Trump, despite being six weeks shy of the traditional 100-day mark for assessing a new administration's achievements, has already accomplished more than most administrations do in 500 days.
His actions have ranged from fulfilling long-standing GOP promises to downsize the Department of Education, to identifying and eliminating instances of wasteful spending, securing investment pledges from businesses and foreign governments, and intensifying the crackdown on illegal immigrants.
As reported by The Washington Examiner, Trump's actions have not only stirred up a storm of anger among the left towards their own leadership, but he also took a jab at top Democrats by revoking the security clearances of former President Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton.
Despite facing setbacks in his goal to end the war in Ukraine and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, Trump has made some progress. He has also felt the sting of court rulings against several of his initiatives, particularly on immigration and his efforts to "drain the swamp." However, he remains hopeful for trade victories from his threats of reciprocal tariffs.
The American public has rewarded Trump's first two months in office with continued, even strengthened support, a response that has surprised pollsters. I really thought Trumps approval might break below 50 today, said Rasmussen Reports pollster Mark Mitchell, who is alone in taking and publishing daily approval numbers for the president. However, Trump's approval rating, after dipping to 50% midweek, bounced back to 51% on Friday. Hes doing what he promised to do. Hence the approval, Mitchell told Secrets.
Despite this support, some critics maintain a pessimistic view of the president's performance. Conservative analyst Jed Babbin gave Trump a D-minus, and Democratic pollster John Zogby a D. Zogby noted that while some may thrive on chaos, most Americans do not. He pointed out that Trump's approval numbers are not terrible, but they are challenged. He also highlighted that Trump is receiving low marks on handling the economy, which remains a top concern among voters. Evidence shows that a growing number of Republicans are growing angry and stocks had another bad week.
Furthermore, Trump has faced legal challenges. Multiple judges have ruled against him for dismantling USAID, ordering him to restore spending for contracted work. A judge has also ruled against his administrations military ban of transgender individuals.
Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected Trumps plea for a ceasefire in Ukraine, openly defying Trump by bombing an energy plant in Ukraine after seeming to agree not to. There are increasing concerns that the president plans to ignore court orders, prompting pundits to worry about a Constitutional crisis.
Babbin, on the other hand, noted that despite surging popularity polls and a decrease in inflation, Trump was unable to make a deal with Russia on Ukraine. His tariffs were met with reciprocal tariffs on U.S. goods by the European Union, and the fight between the Justice Department and a judge who thinks his order limiting deportation of Venezuelan gang members was ignored is escalating out of control. Trumps executive order to dismantle the Department of Education isnt effective because legislation is required to do that.
Despite these challenges, Trump's administration continues to push forward. His actions have sparked a range of reactions, from approval and support to criticism and legal challenges. However, it is clear that Trump is not afraid to take bold actions and shake up the status quo, a trait that has defined his presidency thus far. Whether these actions will ultimately benefit the American people and the nation as a whole remains to be seen.
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