100 Days In: A Flurry of Action, But Mixed Long-Term Impact
Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump has wasted no time showing the country he’s moving aggressively to fulfill his campaign promises. With full Republican control of Congress, Trump has had free rein to reshape the federal government and shake up foreign policy.
As Trump marks his 100th day in office, his influence is visible across the board — but whether the impact will stick remains uncertain. Many executive orders laid groundwork for bigger moves still to come, and lawsuits are piling up, which could ultimately unravel parts of his agenda. Here’s where his major promises stand so far:
Inflation Is Down — But Tariffs Could Reverse It
Trump claimed victory over inflation, pointing out that rates fell from 9.1% in 2022 to 2.4% by March. “We already solved inflation,” Trump boasted.
However, economists and the Federal Reserve warn that Trump’s aggressive new tariffs could drive prices back up by taxing foreign imports. Meanwhile, his promises to “pay off all our debt” are on shaky ground, with proposed tax cuts expected to further slash government revenue — a repeat of his first term, when the national debt ballooned.
Immigration Crackdown Moves Fast — But Raises Due Process Concerns
Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration is one of his clearest areas of progress. Illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border dropped dramatically — from 249,740 in December 2023 to just over 7,000 in March 2025.
At the same time, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has ramped up nationwide arrests, deporting many individuals without court hearings. Cases like Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s — deported to a Salvadoran prison without a criminal record or hearing — highlight concerns over due process under Trump’s immigration policies.
Energy Bills: Big Promises, No Results Yet
On the campaign trail, Trump pledged to slash Americans’ energy bills by half or even three-quarters within 12–18 months. So far, voters are still waiting to see a difference. While Trump hedged at times, he repeatedly promised massive reductions, telling a North Carolina crowd, “Under my plan, we will cut energy and electricity prices in half.”
Trump’s Tariff Push Hits Markets — and Pocketbooks
True to his campaign promise, Trump has gone all-in on tariffs. After targeting Canada, Mexico, and China over fentanyl concerns, he announced sweeping tariffs on April 2 — a day he dubbed “Liberation Day.”
Although he softened some measures through negotiations, tariffs on Chinese imports remain as high as 145%. The stock market has seesawed under the pressure, and many fear that higher consumer prices are inevitable as the tariffs take hold.
The Russia-Ukraine War Still Rages On
During his campaign, Trump promised he would end the Russia-Ukraine war “before I even arrive at the Oval Office.” Some versions of the promise were even bolder, claiming he would end it “in one day.”
But despite taking office, the war continues without a peace deal in sight, highlighting one of Trump’s most glaring unmet promises.
Tax Cuts Still Stuck in Congress
Trump’s ambitious tax agenda — eliminating taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security — remains stalled. Although he’s working with congressional Republicans to push a “big, beautiful bill,” razor-thin GOP majorities make passage uncertain.
Meanwhile, the new tariffs threaten to increase the financial burden on consumers before any relief from tax cuts can materialize.
Higher Ed and Culture Wars: DEI, Foreign Students, and History Revisions
Trump’s administration has moved aggressively against higher education institutions. Targeting schools over antisemitism, DEI programs, and foreign students, Trump froze more than $2 billion in grants, called for stripping Harvard’s tax-exempt status, and threatened to block it from enrolling foreign students.
Cultural battles extended beyond universities. Trump ordered the removal of DEI language from federal communications and launched a sweeping review of Pentagon content. Some historical materials — including tributes to Black and Navajo war heroes — were mistakenly flagged for deletion but later survived.
Through an executive order to “restore truth and sanity to American history,” Trump also banned federal money from supporting Smithsonian programs he deemed ideologically improper.
Transgender Rights Rollbacks
Keeping another campaign pledge, Trump signed executive orders banning transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports. He’s also urging the Supreme Court to uphold his move to remove transgender troops from the military.
Elon Musk’s DOGE Plan Falters
Tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was created with the goal of downsizing the federal bureaucracy. Musk and his team pushed out tens of thousands of federal employees and aimed to save $1 trillion.
However, the project has fallen short. Musk has since lowered his savings target to $150 billion, and even that figure remains uncertain.
Pardoning Jan. 6 Rioters — As Promised
On Day 1, Trump fulfilled his controversial promise to pardon those involved in the January 6 Capitol riot. Roughly 1,500 individuals — including those who attacked police — received pardons, a major reversal from Trump’s initial condemnation of the violence.
Environmental Rollbacks With Limited Results
Trump signed executive orders aimed at boosting oil, gas, and coal production. One order revoked what he called Biden’s “electric vehicle mandate,” though no binding EV mandate existed.
He also targeted California’s plan to phase out gas-powered cars by 2035. However, undoing California’s plan requires congressional action, and no law has yet passed.
