Trump’s first 100 days of his second term were filled with controversial decisions, including mass deportations, high tariffs, and the removal of DEI programs. These moves sparked legal battles, global backlash, and concern over their long-term impact.
President Donald Trump's second term has been marked by numerous controversial moves that have triggered a lot of controversies. His moves have generated intense reactions from both critics and supporters. Here's a brief overview of some of the most discussed moves within his first 100 days in office:
The government began a large-scale deportation of over 250 non-citizens to El Salvador’s Center for Terrorism Confinement under a wartime law. The Supreme Court called this illegal and ordered the return of at least one deportee, but the White House refused to follow the court’s decision. This raised concerns about fairness and the treatment of non-citizens.
Trump issued 143 executive orders in his first 100 days, which is a record number for any president. The orders were aimed at immigration, slashing diversity programs, and shrinking federal employment. Most of the orders are currently being challenged in the courts, with their critics arguing that they exceed the power of the president.
Drove by Elon Musk, DOGE aimed at reducing government expenditure. It eliminated certain agencies, such as USAID, and fired thousands of government employees. Critics feared this could result in privacy issues and that vital programs such as Social Security and veterans' benefits could be endangered.
Trump chose to withdraw funding from the World Health Organization, blaming them for being pro-China. Critics opine that the action undermined the efforts of global health and made it more difficult for nations to collaborate in health emergencies such as pandemics.
Trump slapped 145% tariffs on Chinese imports and 10-25% tariffs on other countries, triggering a trade war. The move caused stock markets to drop and consumer confidence to fall. Economists warned that these actions could lead to a potential recession.
Trump granted pardon to more than 1,500 individuals convicted of participating in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, including individuals in extremist groups. Most people faulted this and claimed it had the wrong signal and would push more political violence.
Trump replaced the board of the Kennedy Center with his own loyalists to pressure more conservative shows. This caused artists, such as those who perform in the musical Hamilton to cancel shows. The government was criticized for becoming too involved in the arts and attempting to dictate cultural events.
The government defied court orders, such as one by the Supreme Court regarding deportations. The judges were threatened for disobeying orders too. In some instances, one of the judges was even arrested for refusing to comply with government immigration policies.
Trump banned diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in federal agencies and removed related content from government websites. This also meant some books were banned from military libraries. Critics say this could lead to more discrimination and ignore the struggles of minority groups.
Trump issued orders that limited gender-affirming care for minors and removed protections for transgender people in federal jobs and the military. Critics say these policies are unfair and might break the law.
Trump’s approval rating is between 40 and 42 percent. Many people in the US are worried his actions might cause a recession. There are several legal cases against him. Some of these are from judges who were chosen by his own party. He also stopped US funding to the World Health Organization. This, along with the trade war and other policy changes, has caused problems with other countries. These actions are likely to keep affecting politics in the U.S. during his second term.