It was expected that U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term would be turbulent and unusual—but the past 100 days have surpassed all expectations. According to political analysts, Trump’s first 100 days back in the White House have been the most tumultuous period in U.S. history.
BOTH AMERICA AND THE WORLD ARE SPINNING
Trump had promised during his campaign to implement a sweeping reform program as soon as he returned to the White House. But few anticipated the pace at which he would act. By signing executive orders one after another, he stunned everyone. Trump’s bold presidential directives have affected everyone—from rural American voters to people across the globe. Prices have soared, and uncertainty has reached its peak.
TRUMP: “I ENJOY WHAT I’M DOING A LOT”
Trump exudes confidence and insists he’s doing the right thing. In an interview with The Atlantic, he said, “In my first term, I had to survive and govern the country. Now I’m governing both the country and the world.”
He also added that he is “greatly enjoying what he’s doing.” Judging by recent events, that enjoyment is clear. His tariff policies have wreaked havoc on global markets, and he hasn’t hesitated to use coarse language when recounting how foreign leaders have called him.
Trump also claims to be a “chosen one.” There are deep disagreements between him and the EU, especially Germany, which has accelerated its rearmament efforts.
Despite not making as much progress as he hoped, Trump remains determined on several radical goals: questioning NATO, normalizing relations with Russia, annexing Greenland, reclaiming the Panama Canal, making Canada the 51st U.S. state, and building a vacation resort in Gaza.
TRUMP SHOOK AMERICA
In his first 100 days, President Trump has waged fierce battles with the media, academia, and especially the judiciary. His confrontations with the courts have sparked major debate in the U.S.
It came as a big surprise to see politicians in America ignoring court decisions—a scenario usually seen in countries like Turkey. Both Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance said, “Judges are not allowed to control the legitimate power of the executive.” In other words, the White House has ignored certain court rulings.
100 CANCELLATIONS IN 100 DAYS
Indeed, the struggle between Trump and the judiciary has reached historic proportions. The media and human rights organizations have kept track of his controversial decisions. According to The New York Times, courts have blocked the implementation of more than 100 executive orders due to constitutional concerns.
One of Trump’s most controversial actions has been his hardline immigration policies. In the first 100 days, he revoked the visas of over 300 foreign students. The arrests and mistreatment of Turkish student Rumeysa Öztürk and Palestinian student Mahmud Halil drew widespread criticism—and the debate continues.
Planes carrying undocumented immigrants to the notorious Guantanamo Bay facility have been working overtime. While this hasn’t grabbed as many headlines as other topics, Trump appears to be steadily advancing this agenda.
“THE SAW” PROVED HE WASN’T JOKING
As part of his effort to shrink the government, Trump has fired thousands of federal employees and shut down long-standing institutions like USAID. He also ended “inclusion” programs prioritized by Democratic presidents.
These programs—established in the 1960s to provide equal opportunities for African Americans—were terminated, sparking major backlash.
Trump has also taken on the media and academic institutions. He suspended billion-dollar funding for elite “Ivy League” schools and made radical interventions in the media ecosystem.
Harvard University refused to comply with Trump’s demands and opted to take legal action. The friction between Trump and universities has affected students’ career plans worldwide.
GLOBAL MARKETS IN TURMOIL
The biggest disruption in Trump’s first 100 days came from his tariffs. He imposed various taxes on many countries, especially China. These rates have changed constantly.
Even White House correspondents have struggled to keep track of them. Billions of dollars evaporated from the stock markets. Trump claimed to put “America First,” but even U.S. markets were shocked by his decisions.
POLLS SPELL TROUBLE FOR TRUMP
Polls show that the American public is not very pleased with Trump’s first 100 days. Three separate polls indicate significant declines in his approval ratings since taking office on January 20. For instance, according to a Reuters poll, his approval rating has dropped from 47% in January to 42% now.
A Washington Post–ABC News poll shows it has fallen to 39%. According to CNN, public approval of his inflation policy has declined by 9 points to just 35%.
These numbers represent the lowest confidence ratings of Trump’s career.
Another poll shows that 72% of Americans believe Trump’s economic policies will lead to a recession.
An NBC News poll revealed that 61% of the public disapprove of Trump’s trade and tariff policies.
WHAT IMPACT WILL THESE RESULTS HAVE ON TRUMP?
Trump is expected to outline his agenda for the next 100 days at a rally in Michigan tomorrow. Despite what the polls show, he is not expected to make radical changes to his policies. He firmly believes in what he’s doing, and his core supporters haven’t abandoned him—yet.
However, if there’s no economic recovery by the time of next year’s midterm elections, Trump could lose his majority in Congress. That would leave him politically paralyzed in the remaining two years of his term.
In short, looking at Trump’s first 100 days, one might start humming Rafet El Roman’s song “Adventure-Filled America”—and they wouldn’t be wrong.
