Has Trump kept his day one promises?

Donald Trump, the former president of the United States, made numerous promises during his campaign for the presidency. He vowed to cut taxes, lower prices, tackle illegal immigration, end ongoing wars, and bolster American industries. Some of these proposals were elaborated by his policy team, while others were presented by Trump himself in videos on his campaign website, known as 'Agenda 47. ' Additionally, some ideas seemed to come from Trump's spontaneous and open-minded approach to discussing policies. In his victory speech on November 6, he emphasized his commitment to fulfilling the promises that helped him secure his return to the White House, stating, 'I will govern by a simple motto: Promises made, promises kept. ' This phrase has become a sort of slogan for him during his initial month in office, which has been characterized by a flurry of activity and significant progress toward achieving some of his objectives. In areas like immigration and foreign policy, Trump has considerable authority to act independently, and he has exercised that power. However, in other areas, he has encountered legal challenges and political hurdles. Many of the promises he has made will ultimately require action from Congress, which is currently under narrow Republican control, to become permanent laws. Let's examine some of Trump's most significant 'day one' promises and his efforts to turn them into reality. One of his major promises was to reduce prices. He stated, 'When I win, I will immediately bring prices down, starting on day one. ' However, this has proven to be one of his most challenging commitments, and it remains unfulfilled. In his inaugural address, Trump pledged to 'marshal the vast powers' of his Cabinet to swiftly lower costs and prices, but the specifics of how he plans to achieve this remain unclear. One approach he mentioned is increasing oil drilling to help reduce energy costs. However, a significant price surge in January, the largest monthly increase in 16 months, has complicated his efforts. Trump attributed this rise to the previous administration, blaming Joe Biden and Democratic spending, stating, 'I had nothing to do with it. ' At times, he has acknowledged that it is difficult for US presidents to control prices. Economists have raised concerns that some of his proposed policies could exacerbate inflation, and polling indicates that voters would like to see him take more action on an issue that frequently ranks high on their list of priorities. Another significant promise was related to mass deportations. Trump declared, 'On day one, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history to get the criminals out. ' Since taking office, immigration has been a primary focus for Trump, leading to the issuance of more than a dozen executive orders aimed at overhauling the immigration system. His plan to deport foreign nationals living in the country illegally, starting with those convicted of crimes, appears to have widespread public support. However, it remains uncertain whether he will fulfill his promise to deport such a large number of individuals. While there have been some high-profile raids, the overall number of deportations does not seem to be record-breaking. In his first month in office, the US deported 37,660 individuals, which is below the monthly average of 57,000 removals and returns during the last full year of Biden's administration, according to data obtained by Reuters. A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security explained that the higher deportation numbers during the Biden administration were due to increased illegal immigration. Nationwide border encounters decreased by 66% in January compared to the previous year, as reported by the White House. Another promise Trump made was regarding pardons related to the January 6 Capitol riot. He stated, 'I'll be looking at J6 early on, maybe the first nine minutes. ' True to his word, just hours after taking the presidential oath, Trump issued pardons and commutations that facilitated the release of over 1,500 individuals convicted or charged in connection with the Capitol riot. Some individuals, including a police officer who was assaulted that day, expressed their discontent, calling the pardons a 'slap in the face. ' Trump also promised to end the war in Ukraine quickly, saying, 'They're dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And I'll have that done - I'll have that done in 24 hours. ' He has initiated the first talks between the US and Russia since the war began, but Ukraine has vowed to reject any agreements made without its involvement, leading to tensions between leaders. President Volodymyr Zelensky fears that Trump may fulfill his campaign promise to end the war on Moscow's terms, without providing security guarantees for Ukraine. There is also concern among European leaders that they may be sidelined and that Trump could dismantle some of the sanctions imposed on Russia in response to the invasion. Trump also expressed his intention to end birthright citizenship, stating in December, 'If somebody sets a foot of just a foot… on our land, congratulations. You are now a citizen of the United States of America. Yes, we're going to end that. ' In one of his first actions of his second presidency, Trump ordered an end to the automatic right to American citizenship currently granted to nearly anyone born on US soil. Birthright citizenship is not common worldwide, although it is practiced in Mexico and Canada. Trump's move specifically targets individuals who are in the US illegally or on temporary visas. This right was established by an amendment to the US Constitution nearly 160 years ago, and most legal experts argue that the president does not have the authority to unilaterally change it. The issue may ultimately reach the US Supreme Court after an appeals court upheld a legal block on Trump's plan. Lastly, Trump promised to impose blanket tariffs on Canada and Mexico, stating, 'On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders. ' He announced on January 21 that he would implement these tariffs on February 1, linking them to the flow of drugs and migrants into the US. Trump has long viewed tariffs, which are taxes on imports, as a means to protect domestic industries and generate revenue. Both Canada and Mexico indicated they would respond with retaliatory taxes on US imports. However, Trump postponed the start of the tariffs for one month after both countries promised to enhance border enforcement. There were also concerns about market volatility and warnings from economic experts that these actions could lead to rising prices.