The second Trump administration is well underway, with the contrasts to the previous four years very noticeable. There are several crucial reasons for this. First and foremost is the term of former President Joe Biden. Although Mr. Biden campaigned as a moderate and pledged to unify the country after COVID, his term largely espoused policies promoted by the far-left wing of the Democratic Party. One of the methods used was lawfare against Mr. Trump— a tactic that would ultimately haunt and create blowback against the Democrats.
Since Donald Trump has been re-elected as president, have there been any changes? The answer is a resounding yes. One of the challenges of his victory in 2016 was the surprise factor in nominating and vetting candidates to fill his Cabinet. The process of properly vetting candidates for the first term was tedious and resulted in high turnover. In contrast, the 2024 campaign had already vetted and prepared candidates for Senate confirmation hearings. The opportunity to monitor the political and economic climate from outside the Beltway also provided ample time to craft an agenda and led to a successful campaign.
Another key aspect has been Trump’s commitment to keeping his promises. One common critique of American politicians is that they over-promise and under-deliver. Some of the decisions made by President Biden caused financial hardship for American consumers, while the Afghanistan withdrawal created opportunities for renewed conflict in the Middle East and likely opened the door for renewed Russian operations in Ukraine. Some of the first actions taken by the returning Trump administration involved rescinding executive orders and mandates issued by the Biden administration that had ultimately harmed the public.
One area where there has been rapid movement is the immigration crisis. A clear example of this is the decrease in the number of migrants approaching the southern border of the United States. A second key development was the passage of the Lankin-Riley Act by both chambers of Congress, which streamlines the process for arresting illegal migrants involved in criminal offences. This represents both a victory for President Trump and a promise kept.
Another major promise made by then-candidate Trump was the mass deportation of illegal immigrants. Beginning the day after the inauguration, a nationwide effort commenced to detain individuals connected to violent gangs and smuggling operations. The majority of those taken into custody have been males, while the political opposition appeared to be hoping for optics involving women and children being detained. That has not happened yet, though such a situation could arise in the future.
The fulfilment of campaign promises ties into another defining factor of Trump’s second administration: speed. This has been central to all the pledges made and kept so far. The rollout of hundreds of executive orders—already drafted and awaiting the president’s signature—was a crucial element in Trump’s return to office.
A major concern for President Trump will be the limits of his tenure. Under the terms of the Constitution, he will not be eligible to run for a third term. Therefore, the first two years of this term will be the most crucial. After the 2026 midterm elections, President Trump will become a lame duck for the final two years of his term. How this period will unfold remains to be seen, but it will undoubtedly produce some epic social media posts.