Trump’s First 100 Days: Immigration Crackdowns, Government Shakeups, and Tariff Blitz

Trump’s First 100 Days: The Scorecard

President Donald Trump kicked off his second term with bold promises and a vision of a "golden age of America," vowing to reclaim U.S. sovereignty, lock down the border, and trim the federal government with the newly-minted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Now, 100 days in, it’s time to check which campaign fireworks fizzled and which actually lit up the sky.

Border & Immigration: Trump wasted no time declaring a national emergency at the southern border, ending catch-and-release, and sending troops to halt illegal entries. The numbers tell the story: March saw fewer border apprehensions than the first two days of March 2024 under President Biden. Deportations have ramped up, with a focus on gang members, and the State Department has labeled notorious groups like Tren de Aragua and MS-13 as foreign terrorist organizations. Trump even invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 for some deportations. That old law is getting more action now than it has in over half a century.

Government Slim-Down: Trump, with a little cheerleading from tech billionaire Elon Musk, created DOGE to hunt down government waste. The agency (not related to the meme coin, though it’s just as viral) claims to have saved $160 billion by axing bloated contracts and streamlining operations. The Department of Education and the US Agency for International Development didn’t survive the DOGE diet; both were effectively shut down.

Foreign Affairs & Peace Efforts: Trump promised to play peacemaker in a world on fire, hoping to end both the Middle East and Russia-Ukraine wars. Hostage releases from Gaza have made some headlines, but a final ceasefire remains elusive. As for Ukraine and Russia, the peace talks Trump pushed have hit snags, with heated exchanges between him, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently warned that the U.S. might just "move on" if talks keep stalling. Even at the Pope’s funeral, Trump and Zelenskyy were still deep in negotiation mode—nothing like international diplomacy at a memorial service.

Education Overhaul: True to his word, Trump signed off on dismantling the Department of Education and put states in charge. He also axed federal funding for K-12 schools pushing critical race theory or DEI curricula. An executive order now blocks federal funds for schools allowing biological males in women’s sports, while another expands school choice.

Economy & Jobs: With inflation cooling to 2.4% in March and gas prices dropping in some states to $1.98 a gallon, Trump claims his "drill, baby, drill" energy push is working. The job market added 228,000 jobs in March, though unemployment ticked up to 4.2%. Trump’s big play: customized tariffs on dozens of nations. China got a 125% tariff slap, and trade talks are flying fast and furious. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent praised South Korea’s speedy negotiations, but Trump warned that tariffs may mean a "little disturbance" at the checkout—though he says it’s a small price for making America "rich again." There’s even talk that tariffs could someday replace income tax. If that happens, accountants everywhere may start looking for new careers.

At the 100-day mark, Trump’s administration is moving fast and breaking things—sometimes entire government departments. Whether you’re a fan or a skeptic, you can’t say it’s been boring.