Trump’s Second Term: First 100 Days Under the Spotlight

As of late April 2025, President Donald Trump’s second, non-consecutive term has reached the symbolic 100-day milestone. Independent news reports describe an administration moving aggressively to implement its agenda. Supporters tout rapid action toward campaign promises, while critics warn the sheer scope of Trump’s moves — many done by executive order — risks economic turmoil and legal battles. In a detailed count of policies and outcomes, The Washington Post/AP notes that Trump’s first 100 days “have been a demolition job — and that’s a point of pride for his administration,” reflecting an administration intent on sweeping change. Below, we review the factual record from independent sources — legislative and executive actions, domestic and foreign policy, economic trends, and public response — and assess whether conditions under this administration appear to be improving or worsening, with evidence.

Executive Actions and Domestic Agenda

Trump’s administration has relied heavily on executive power. In 100 days, Trump has issued roughly 140 executive orders​ — nearly matching the 162 orders signed by President Biden over four years. Observers note this pace of action is unprecedented in modern times. Yet the scope of these actions is even more remarkable: without waiting for new laws from Congress, the president has unilaterally imposed hundreds of billions in new import taxes and slashed the federal workforce by hundreds of thousands of employees​. The chart below highlights key tallies from the administration’s opening months:

• ~140 executive orders signed in 100 days ​washingtonpost.com

• Tariff hikes: a 145% duty on Chinese imports (and high levies on other nations) triggered a global market panic ​washingtonpost.com

• Federal workforce cuts: roughly 280,000 jobs lost so far, via firings and buyouts in multiple agencies​ washingtonpost.com

• Immigration enforcement: 139,000 people deported, while illegal border crossings have plummeted ​washingtonpost.com

• Legal challenges: multiple lawsuits already, from TSA unions and other groups, against policies like ending collective bargaining for federal workers​ and stripping birthright citizenship​.

Trump has moved dozens of federal workers out the door (recalling the early-2017 “Night of the Long Knives” shake-up) and used orders to reshape government. John Woolley of UC Santa Barbara’s American Presidency Project calls these “very aggressive assertions of presidential authority in all kinds of ways” — more forceful than typical precedents​. Indeed, many actions (from revoking past environmental rules to imposing mass layoffs) are cited by critics as unprecedented for any president. For example, on January 20 Trump signed an order to end automatic birthright citizenship. That policy (which would withhold U.S. citizenship from nearly all children of non-citizens) was immediately blocked by federal courts​ and is now before the Supreme Court. Likewise, efforts to cut federal pay and benefits have run into injunctions; a California judge has already extended a block on Trump’s order to fire thousands of newly hired employees​.

These aggressive domestic steps are deeply controversial. Supporters argue Trump is delivering on promises to shrink government and tighten borders, creating a “renewed America.” But critics decry a breakdown of norms. The Washington Post/AP report notes opponents see a White House “wielding its authority in ways that challenge the Constitution’s separation of powers and pose the risk of triggering a recession.”​ In practice, legal stays and lawsuits (for example, by immigrant rights groups, public unions, and state attorneys general) have already hobbled some orders. Civil liberties groups and lawmakers have protested fiercely — for instance, dozens of people occupied Trump Tower in mid-March to decry the government’s arrest of a pro-Palestinian student facing deportation​. Such incidents highlight the social tensions under Trump’s domestic agenda.

Trade, Economy and Markets

Economists and investors have watched Trump’s economic policies with alarm. Markets initially responded with euphoria: on election night 2024, Bitcoin shot to a record high (~$75,000) and U.S. stocks “exploded” upward on hopes of Trump’s pro-crypto, pro-business agenda​. But that optimism has soured amid aggressive trade moves. By mid-April Trump had slapped steep tariffs on metals, autos and other imports (145% on China, 25% on Mexico/Canada in some cases)​. A volatile day of market panic led Trump to partially roll back tariffs — setting a 10% baseline and pausing new duties while talks proceed​ — yet the damage was done. China immediately retaliated with a 125% tax on U.S. goods, and both nations remain locked in conflict​.

Independent analysts warn these trade wars are inflationary and recessionary. The AP analysis recounts how the tariff standoff “has unnerved the global economy” and notes rising fears as “trade war…could spiral out of control in dangerous ways.”​ A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll also found that only 36% of Americans approve of Trump’s economic stewardship​, reflecting widespread concern. Indeed, Reuters reports that “fears of a recession have surged” as Trump’s tariffs mount so high that “trade with some countries — notably China — could grind nearly to a halt”​. Many investors are unsettled: global stock indices and supply chains show signs of stress.

The White House has tried small course corrections. On April 29, Trump signed an order to cushion the blow of his auto tariffs with tax credits and relief measures​. Commerce officials also hinted at quiet negotiations to remove some reciprocal tariffs. But these are seen as damage control. The Reuters coverage of Trump’s 100-day rally in Michigan notes that only 42% of Americans approve of his overall job performance (vs. 53% disapproval), and approval of his economic record has fallen to historic lows​. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (a Democrat) pressed Trump to lift costly energy tariffs on Canada, warning they would hurt New Yorkers’ heating bills​. (Trump met with her in Washington in mid-March to discuss the issue, a rare show of bipartisanship​.) These jitters on Main Street and Wall Street suggest the economy is a weak spot so far under Trump 2.0.

Foreign Policy and International Relations

On the global stage, Trump’s first 100 days have been marked by sharp departures from the post-2021 status quo. One headline-grabber is his approach to Ukraine and Russia. The president’s own “peace plan” demands that Ukraine formally cede control of Crimea (over 10,000 square miles) to Russia​. Allied leaders expressed dismay at this concession. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy flatly rejected the idea, saying “There is nothing to talk about — it is our land.” European partners worry that Trump’s apparent affinity with Putin is undermining the Western position against Russian aggression. Meanwhile, Trump praised the idea of Russian leader Vladimir Putin wanting peace, even after recent Russian missile strikes​. Allies have also been unsettled by Trump’s handling of the Israel–Hamas war. In February he claimed credit for a temporary Gaza ceasefire, but when fighting resumed he floated an extreme solution: moving all Palestinians out of Gaza and rebuilding it as a “Riviera” under U.S. control​. In the first 100 days, at least 2,000 more Palestinians have died in Gaza after the truce fell apart (on top of ~50,000 fatalities overall), even as basic aid was blocked. Such proposals have drawn criticism that Trump is ignoring international law and destabilizing the Middle East.

Trade and diplomacy have been similarly erratic. Allies like Canada and Mexico have bristled at new U.S. tariffs: President Trump’s imposition of duties on Canadian energy has led New York officials to plead for relief​. In contrast to prior summits, there has been no major push to renew trade deals; instead, the administration talks tough on foreign countries. On climate and energy, Trump appears to be rolling back Biden-era commitments. For example, multiple climate-friendly programs have been frozen: the USDA paused hundreds of millions in rural energy and conservation grants from the Inflation Reduction Act, prompting farmers and nonprofits to sue for release of the funds​. The suit argues the freeze is “not government efficiency” but “thoughtless waste” inflicting “financial pain on small farmers”​. Such moves signal a retreat from international efforts on clean energy.

In sum, Trump’s foreign policy has unsettled many partners. He has embraced a transactional “America First” stance, even at the cost of U.S. alliances. The coverage so far portrays an isolating effect: trade wars with China and Europe, overtures to Russia, hardball on immigration, and little engagement with multilateral forums. Some defenders say he is simply renegotiating from a position of strength. But independent reporting finds most allies wary, and some strategic relationships notably strained.

Public Reaction and Media Coverage

Media accounts and public polling paint a mixed but trending-negative picture. In his own tour of the first 100 days, President Trump went on the offense in late April. A Reuters team reported that in Michigan he held rallies to tout his administration’s achievements, trying to “reassure Americans about the country’s direction” as many doubted his handling of the economy​. At those events he highlighted defense spending and infrastructure wins (e.g. keeping a local Air Force base open). Even there, however, Reuters noted that independent polls found only 42% approval overall and a mere 36% approval on economic issues​.

On the broader media landscape, coverage has been skeptical. The AP-centric Washington Post article framed his tenure as an aggressive undoing of previous administrations, terming it a proud “demolition job.”​ Commentators often contrast “renewed America” slogans from Trump’s camp with warnings that rights and institutions are under threat. Civil libertarians, for example, have highlighted the arrest of Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil (a U.S. citizen) for pro-Palestinian speech as evidence of targeting dissent​. Similarly, union leaders emphasize that airline and airport workers (50,000 TSA officers) have sued to block the administration from voiding their collective bargaining agreement​. Environmental groups and progressive lawmakers focus on the halting of climate grants and airport staff cuts as regressions.

Meanwhile, pro-Trump media and rallies note accomplishments: campaign promises about immigration enforcement, military strength and regulatory rollbacks are being fulfilled, they say. Trump and allies cite the steep drop in border crossings and say deficits have shrunk due to spending cuts and tariffs. Yet independent journalists report widespread public concern. For instance, Reuters quotes economists warning that Trump’s trade brinkmanship has shaken investors and companies, and that “economic stewardship” under Trump is viewed negatively by a majority of Americans​. Opinion polls behind paywalls (AP/Reuters/Ipsos) show similar narratives: many Americans feel they are “getting what they expected” in terms of Trump’s agenda, but few are enthusiastic about it.

Outlook: Improvement or Decline?

Does evidence suggest things are getting better or worse under Trump’s second term? So far, much of the data and analysis points toward increased instability and risk. On the economy, the early optimism has faded: trade wars and tariffs are fueling inflationary pressures and a risk of recession, while consumer and business confidence have dipped. The number of Americans disapproving of Trump’s performance now exceeds approvers​. Stock and crypto markets have become more volatile after the initial surge​. Key economic indicators (inflation, supply disruptions) are expected to remain under strain if current policies hold.

In domestic affairs, civil liberties and governance seem under pressure. The administration’s record deportations and mass firings have alarmed immigrant advocates, unions, and even some Republicans. Legal blocks on Trump’s orders are piling up, suggesting a prolonged conflict between the executive and judicial branches. Even staunch conservative groups (e.g. Heritage Foundation affiliates, state legislators) have at times spoken out against overreach like ending birthright citizenship.

Internationally, U.S. leadership has shifted unpredictably. Allies note that Trump’s stance on Ukraine and China breaks with past consensus and could weaken alliances. The massive retaliation by other countries (tariff wars, diplomatic friction) suggests that global relationships are at a low point. China’s economy, Latin American trade, and even Middle East balance of power may all suffer from America’s abrupt policy reversals.

None of the independent analyses we found shows clear evidence of broad improvement. If anything, journalists have chronicled deterioration or at least heightened risks in multiple domains: economic stability, geopolitical alliances, social cohesion, and institutional norms. That said, Trump’s supporters argue that fulfilling campaign promises (immigration enforcement, military investment) and pushing back on trade partners are long-term positives, and they point to some early signs like lower deficits or gas prices as possible benefits of tariff revenue. But on balance — given high-profile warnings of recession​, significant legal challenges​, and public unease — the independent evidence suggests the country faces growing challenges in this administration’s first 100 days.