The first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second term were marked by an aggressive push to implement campaign promises, primarily through executive actions, tariffs, and immigration enforcement.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 2, 2025
- Record Breaking Executive Orders
Signed 143 executive orders the most of any US president in their first 100 days surpassing Franklin Roosevelts 99 These covered immigration border security energy trade and government efficiency with 37 signed in the first week alone
Rescinded 111 prior presidential orders mostly from the Biden administration targeting climate change COVID 19 policies and diversity equity and inclusion DEI initiatives - Immigration and Border Security
Reduced illegal border crossings by 96 percent from 211896 in March 2022 to 8193 in March 2025 the lowest in at least 25 years according to US Customs and Border Protection
Launched a mass deportation operation arresting over 151000 undocumented immigrants and deporting 135000 including 600 alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and thousands of MS 13 and 18th Street gang members
Invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 first use since World War II to deport suspected Tren de Aragua members
Signed orders targeting sanctuary cities threatening to withhold federal funding and providing legal defense for police accused of misconduct
Ended birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants via executive order though this faces legal challenges and is likely unconstitutional - Economic Policy and Tariffs
Imposed tariffs starting February 1 2025 25 percent on Canadian and Mexican goods 10 percent on Canadian energy 10 percent on Chinese goods later raised to 145 percent and a baseline 10 percent on global imports with exemptions for tech items like smartphones
Secured 11 trillion dollars in pledged investments including 500 billion dollars for an AI infrastructure project with Softbank Oracle and OpenAI
Created 345000 jobs with 188000 in non government sectors and cut 15000 federal jobs Manufacturing jobs grew by 9000 reversing Biden era losses
Reduced inflation to 24 percent by March 2025 the lowest since early Bidens term with wholesale egg prices down 50 percent and real wages up 14 percent
Blocked unfinalized Biden era regulations saving an estimated 180 billion dollars and rolled back EPA and DOT rules saving 755 billion dollars - Government Efficiency and Deregulation
Created the Department of Government Efficiency DOGE led by Elon Musk to slash federal spending and workforce DOGE identified 350 billion dollars in waste and targeted agencies like USAID the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Department of Education for reduction or elimination
Froze federal funding temporarily via OMB memo M 25 13 to review compliance with Trumps priorities though courts ordered reinstatement of some funds
Ended DEI programs across federal agencies and the military claiming they violated civil rights laws
Offered a deferred resignation scheme to federal employees encouraging resignations with benefits until September 2025 - Education and Social Policy
Signed an executive order to begin dismantling the Department of Education cutting staff and programs though full elimination requires congressional approval
Banned transgender participation in womens sports and military service and limited access to gender affirming care aligning with policies recognizing only male and female sexes
Withheld federal funding from universities deemed tolerant of anti Semitic behavior
Designated English as the official US language - Foreign Policy
Pardoned over 1500 individuals convicted in the January 6 2021 Capitol riot and others including Ross Ulbricht
Ceased military aid to Ukraine on March 3 2025 pushing for peace talks and proposing a deal for US access to Ukraines rare earth minerals though negotiations stalled
Continued US support for Israel sending bombs and exploring long term ownership of Gaza for redevelopment a controversial proposal criticized as implying ethnic cleansing
Secured the release of 11 American hostages from Venezuela Afghanistan Russia Belarus and Hamas
Withdrew from the World Health Organization - Health and Energy
Appointed Robert F Kennedy Jr as Health Secretary who banned some artificial food dyes and promised a report on autism causes
Expanded domestic oil production and ended Biden era electric vehicle incentives and climate subsidies
Established the Make America Healthy Again Commission and National Energy Dominance Council - Other Notable Actions
Declassified files on the assassinations of John F Kennedy Robert F Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr
Renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in federal publications
Signed the Laken Riley Act and other legislation including a continuing appropriations act
Passed budget resolutions in Congress to preserve and expand the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts via reconciliation - Context and Challenges
- Many accomplishments relied on executive orders which face legal challenges For example courts blocked orders on transgender military bans birthright citizenship and some deportations
- Tariffs caused market volatility with the Dow Jones plunging initially though later stabilizing Public approval of Trumps trade policies weakened with a NPR PBS News Marist poll showing a slim majority disapproving of his immigration handling by April 2025
- The DOGE initiative while popular among supporters sparked controversy over Musks access to sensitive data and led to a 71 percent profit drop for Tesla prompting Musk to plan a reduced role
- Alignment with Project 2025s conservative blueprint was evident with 29 percent of its 532 proposals implemented or proposed despite Trumps campaign distancing from the project
- Approval ratings remained high among Republicans 84 percent in April polls but declined overall reflecting polarized public sentiment
