Trump’s Second Term: A Frenetic Start
Introduction
It already feels like he’s been back for months. Donald Trump is setting a frenetic pace in his second term, fulfilling campaign promises, imposing undiluted power, and settling scores. After the sedate Joe Biden years, the return of a presidency that is an incessant assault on the senses is a reminder of why so many millions of Americans see Trump as a compelling, historic figure – and why millions more deeply fear him.
Trump’s Actions in the First Two Days
Trump has cracked down hard on immigration, held a $500 billion tech investment announcement, renamed the Gulf of Mexico, outlawed much of the diversity policy in the federal government, shopped around TikTok, fired people by social media post, mooted territorial expansion, threatened a trade war, talked to reporters more than Biden did in months, and danced with a sword.
Challenges and Responses
Trump’s velocity is deliberate. So much happens, there’s rarely time to reflect on the gravity of one event. Most new presidencies begin in a flurry of activity, though most emphasize the first 100 days rather than the first 100 hours. Trump has only done the easy part, successfully orchestrating an early rollout. Domestic and international crises lie in wait for a president who has been found wanting in such situations in the past.
Immigration Policy and Public Reaction
Immigration is a crowd-pleasing issue for his base, but Trump is taking a risk by prioritizing it since the cost of groceries and housing was one he vowed to fix during the campaign. Trump needs to maintain his coalition to avoid big losses for the GOP in next year’s midterm elections.
Use of Pardon Power
One of the great fears among Trump’s opponents was that if he won back power, he’d take the law into his own hands. Trump is already using his pardon power aggressively, leading to concerns that he’s effectively acting above the law.
International Relations
Trump has been sending public messages to Putin to make a deal to end the war in Ukraine. He has also held off on promised tariffs against China, using them as leverage before a possible trip to Beijing. Additionally, Trump issued a new threat to the European Union, raising the prospect of another trade war.