Although President Donald Trump and his aides may have promised” shock and awe” during his first 100 days, he and his entourage have delivered an avalanche of executive actions at a rate that has stung both Washington and the world.
Trump has declared a national crisis at the southern border due to improper immigration and signed the Laken Riley Act into law, among other home legislation initiatives, since his inauguration on January 20. More than 1, 500 people who have been found guilty or indicted over January 6 have received mercy from the chairman.
He has overturned federal state laws promoting gender equality and variety, including holding variety, capital, and inclusion initiatives accountable for the air incident last month that occurred close to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Prior to initiating significant changes at departments like the Department of Education and the Justice Department, he has also carried out mass layoffs of national people, including at organizations like the United States Agency for International Development, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Regarding foreign policy, Trump has simultaneously sought to end the Russia–Ukraine and Israel– Hamas wars as he imposes tariffs and recommends that the U. S. control Gaza, Greenland, the Panama Canal, and even TikTok. The senator has also withdrawn the United States from the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Agreement.
” He who saves his State does not violate any Law”, Trump wrote on social media last trip, echoing centralized professional hypothesis, which stipulates the president has ultimate authority over the , professional unit, which has become popular with many liberals.
For Ronald Reagan biographer Craig Shirley, Trump recognizes that “politics is about motion” and “pushing the envelope” is “part of a strategy”.
Trump’s first day of office executive orders, some of which he emblazoned at Capital One Arena, helped him establish a presidential record.
” As long as he’s in motion, he’s advancing his agenda, A, and, B, he’s got the Democrats on the defensive”, Shirley told the Washington Examiner. ” He understands that being in motion, he’s a harder target to hit than being stationary. His worst enemy is not doing anything. His worst enemy is stopping. His best friend is keeping going”.
Another Republican strategist, Cesar Conda, agreed, contending” the daily blizzard” of executive orders, foreign policy deals, and other actions coming out of the Trump administration have kept” Democrats, the media, and liberal interest groups in total disarray”.
” Polls show that the American people overwhelmingly approve because the president is doing exactly what he promised, including securing the border, cutting government spending, using tariffs as leverage, and stopping men from competing in women’s sports”, Conda told the Washington Examiner.
Conda acknowledged there have been “few instances where the need for speed has resulted in clarifications.”
The most memorable was prompted by DOGE, Musk’s temporary cost-cutting federal agency, and an Office of Management and Budget memorandum that was aimed at operationalizing Trump’s federal funding freeze but instead created confusion, including with , Medicaid reimbursement , portals across the country, before it was rescinded under pressure from a federal judge.
The administration was forced to reinstate the de minimus ngtonexaminer.com/tag/trade/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener” title=””>trade exemption in another instance because [ U.S. ] Customs and Border Protection lacked the manpower to inspect millions of small imported packages clogging ports, according to Conda.
But as Musk is repeatedly called on to defend DOGE and encourages the public to correct any of his “mistakes”, Shirley, the biographer, dismissed criticism of him and Trump, specifically concerning the federal workforce.
” For insiders in Washington, it’s a problem, but for outsiders and outside in the rest of the country, it’s not a problem”, he said. ” The American people really don’t give a whit about federal employees”.
Republican strategist John Feehery argued that Trump’s “greatness” is that “he is a strong believer in keeping his promises, despite the court challenges and negative press coverage.”
” Totally refreshing difference from the typical politician”, Feehery told the Washington Examiner.
Democrats are struggling to find a second, more confident administration to address these issues months after the party was wiped out by former vice president Kamala Harris ‘ Electoral College and popular vote defeat last November.
Democratic strategist Mike Nellis admitted to being shocked by how awful Trump’s first month was before amplifying Democrats ‘ claim that he is missing” the moment” to combat inflation and boost the economy. Consumer prices increased by 3 % in the year ending in January, the last index report of former President Joe Biden‘s administration. It was 2.9 % in the year ending December.
” He was elected on the promise to bring grocery prices down on Day One — that’s a quote”, Nellis told the Washington Examiner. ” Instead, he’s flooding the zone with incoherent right-wing policies that most Americans don’t care about. His polling numbers are dropping like a rock, especially among Gen Z voters, because he has broken every promise he made to Americans in just his first month.
Trump’s average approval rating is 49 % approve-46 % disapprove, according to Real Clear Politics. But to Nellis’s point, the Economist has published three tracking polls with YouGov since the start of Trump’s presidency, and those surveys have captured a decline in the president’s popularity, from 50 % approve-46 % disapprove last month to 48 % approve-47 % disapprove earlier this month and 47 % approve-49 % disapprove last week.
But Shirley, the historian, remained adamant that Trump has Democrats” totally boxed in and confused, which is a nice place to have them”.
” He’s in command of so many issues right now, whether it’s the border, whether it’s crime, whether it’s taxes, whether it’s budget spending“, he said. ” They’re reduced to defending corrupt government and abortion. That’s all they’re about now”.
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Trump will have a March 14 deadline for federal funding as House Republicans continue to disagree on top budget figures. This is the president’s first attempt to hold the conference together following internal disagreements over whether to appoint House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA ) as leader.
A federal judge on Tuesday rejected a request from 14 states for a restraining order against Musk and DOGE that would have prevented the entrepreneur and his allies from releasing federal employees from seven agencies. She added that she is considering whether Musk’s “unchecked authority” is constitutional.
