The Insight: Has Trump Kept His Promises?

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Venezuela

During his campaign, Trump outlined his agenda to tackle the War on Drugs that killed 79,384 Americans in 2024, according to the CDC. While he did propose military strikes against drug cartels in Mexico, Trump largely campaigned on the premise of being an "America First" president, promising to bolster US independence and eschew foreign warfare.

However, the US began launching overseas strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats in September that were reportedly run by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. In January, the US captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and imposed partial leadership over the country.

News media published conflicting reports on US opinion of the matter, with New York Post (Lean Right) suggesting Americans largely approved and Associated Press (Left) suggesting they largely disapprove.

'TrumpRx'

In September, Trump announced a website dubbed 'TrumpRx', aimed at offering consumers lower prices on certain prescription drugs.

Both CNN (Lean Left) and the Wall Street Journal (Center) described TrumpRx as "direct-to-consumer," but CNN's article clarified that the site itself "will not sell or distribute medications" but rather redirect consumers to manufacturers' "direct-to-consumer channels."

Federalization

While Trump never hid his intentions to impose mass deportations, his extensive federalization efforts across the US were not depicted during his campaign.

Trump kickstarted his federalization efforts in August, deploying National Guard troops to Washington, DC, to "stop violent crime." That same month, the Pentagon began inviting civilian volunteers to temporarily support ICE and CBP operations.

These efforts were largely focused on immigration enforcement and deportations, with Trump further threatening to re-federalize DC should local policy refuse to comply with ICE.

Similar operations in cities such as Chicago, Illinois; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Minneapolis, Minnesota, included multiple DHS-involved shootings and sparked nationwide protests.

Trump most recently expanded his federalization rhetoric in early February by calling for Republicans to "nationalize the voting," prompting bipartisan criticism.

Greenland

Trump described Greenland's potential as similar to a "large real estate deal" and said "strategically it's interesting," in 2019. At the time, the idea was a blip on the radar. Today, the rhetoric is more intense. Click here to view The Insight on Why the US Wants Greenland.

What could Trump's actions mean for this year's midterms?

Potential Drawbacks for Republicans

Trump's administration has already seen multiple government shutdowns due to congressional infighting and a continual lack of compromise. The 43-day government shutdown that ended in November marked the longest in US history, with Republican opposition to Affordable Care Act (ACA) funding as the crowning point of contention. The ACA, also known as "Obamacare," affects about 24.3 million Americans.

Another (partial) government shutdown ended on Feb. 3; however, DHS funding expired on Feb. 14 amid ongoing debate over immigration enforcement.

Immigration remains one of multiple issues that has sparked concerns over authoritarian tactics within the Trump administration – as exhibited by nationwide "No Kings" protests.

Potential Advantages

Voters prominently expressed concerns about the economy toward the end of 2025, which led to sweeping Democratic victories during November elections. In December, Trump launched a campaign to rebrand affordability and improve the economy. The latest data has since shown cooled inflation and gas prices, and lowered corporate tax rates and heightened tariffs have led some to believe that food price drops will soon follow.

Heading into 2026, Trump promised "some of the most aggressive housing reform plans in American history." He implemented an executive order in January to bar corporate purchases of single-family homes, and signed the "Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act" into law.

The White House later released a report that highlighted multiple rent price declines across the US. Such actions and data may persuade some Americans to vote in favor of a continual Republican-led Congress.

How much of Project 2025 is being or has been implemented?

Note: This is strictly for key issues on which BOTH Trump and Project 2025 outlined plans.

Trump distanced himself from Project 2025 — a conservative political initiative organized by some of his allies — during his campaign, but critics continue to tie him to it. Are they right?

Fully Implemented - Defense Spending

• "Increase the Army budget to remain the world's preeminent land power."
• "Expand and modernize the U.S. nuclear force so that it has the size, sophistication, and tailoring to deter Russia and China simultaneously."

Partially Implemented - Taxes

• Capital gains: "indexed for inflation and taxed at 15%."
• Corporate taxes: "rate would be reduced from 21% to 18%. Capital expenditures would be written off in the first year." eventually "eliminating individual and corporate income taxes in favor of a consumption tax."
• Income taxes: "The Treasury should work with Congress to simplify the tax code by enacting a simple two-rate individual tax system of 15 percent and 30 percent that eliminates most deductions, credits and exclusions", eventually "eliminating individual and corporate income taxes in favor of a consumption tax."
• Tax credits: "Most deductions, credits and exclusions would be repealed, with deductions for state and local taxes and educational expenses being among those targeted."

Not Implemented - Abortion

• Revive the Comstock Act
• Reverse FDA's approval of mifepristone
• "Strive vigorously to protect the unborn in every jurisdiction across America"

Will he run again?

Trump has made conflicting statements about a third presidential term. Previous statements by him suggest that talk of running for president again isn't entirely in earnest, even though Trump said in October he "would love to" secure a third presidential term.

Mixed Messages:

• Trump said in early August that he would "probably not" run for a third term.
• In October of the same week of his statement expressing an interest in running again, he said, "It's pretty clear I'm not allowed to run."
• Trump said "there are methods" for seeking a third term, in March. No legislative action has been taken to do so, though he asserted he was "not joking."

In the history of the United States, only one president has ever served more than two terms: Franklin D. Roosevelt, who won four elections before his death during his fourth term in 1945. His unprecedented run directly led to the 22nd Amendment being ratified in 1951.

Has Trump changed the executive branch for better or worse?

TIME's (Lean Left) late 2025 assessment describes Trump's second term as one in which he expanded both "the formal and informal powers of the presidency," pushing the boundaries of the American political system. In 2026, Americans may see more constraints as institutional checks reassert themselves, according to TIME.

Conversely, senior fellows at political think tank American Enterprise Institute (Lean Right) wrote that his early pledges to "cast aside many norms and to test many foundational laws governing the presidency" did carry "the potential for a major transformation of the Office."

They conclude that Trump has "unquestionably expanded presidential power in important ways," especially by establishing "unprecedented vertical control over the executive branch," but that he is not yet on a clear path to "radical" constitutional change.

Researchers from the Economic Policy Institute (Left) argued to the contrary. "Trump's assault on independent thinking within the government deserves more attention and opposition from Congress, both to defend its prerogative to create public watchdogs within the executive branch and to protect the people these important agencies were designed to serve," they wrote.

For Fox News (Right), Mark Halperin wrote in a recent op-ed that Trump keeps outmaneuvering the press because he "understands the business of news better than any modern president."

Halperin argued that Trump studied the industry's "financial, cultural and psychological vulnerabilities" and turned them into leverage, treating the media as "a rival, a foil, a stage and a punching bag."

AllStances: "What actions have defined Donald Trump's second term in office so far?"

Stance 1: Immigration Enforcement and Border Crackdown

Core Argument: Trump's intensified immigration enforcement is viewed by supporters as restoring border control and public safety, while critics argue it raises civil-liberty concerns and destabilizes communities and local economies.

• Executive actions expanded deportations, screening, and detention policies in large part due to a major 2025 order that expanded expedited removals and penalties for undocumented migrants. Widespread enforcement operations have triggered protests, political backlash, and legal disputes.

Stance 2: Energy Expansion and Deregulation

Core Argument: Supporters believe Trump's push for fossil fuel expansion and deregulation restores energy dominance and lowers costs, while critics say it increases environmental risk and delays the transition to clean energy.

• The administration has issued directives promoting fossil fuel expansion and "energy dominance." Policy actions include initiatives to support coal power and domestic resource production. Analysts say deregulation can reduce industry costs but also weaken environmental safeguards.

Stance 3: Governing Through Executive Power

Core Argument: Trump's reliance on executive orders is viewed by supporters as decisive leadership that bypasses congressional gridlock, while critics argue it centralizes authority and invites constitutional conflict.

• The administration issued 225 executive orders in 2025 - considerably more than presidents to precede him. Many policies – from tariffs to workforce reforms – have been implemented through executive action. Conflicts between federal directives and states or cities have intensified legal battles over federal authority. Some executive actions have ordered agencies to eliminate DEI initiatives and related programs which have been framed by the administration as restoring free speech and limiting government overreach. Some analysts framed the large scope of orders as reflecting a broad attempt to reshape federal institutions.

Stance 4: "America First" Foreign Policy & Economic Pressure

Core Argument: Trump's second term foreign policy is praised by supporters as restoring U.S. leverage through hard-power diplomacy and transactional alliances, while critics argue it weakens global partnerships, destabilizes international institutions, and increases geopolitical uncertainty.

• The administration has prioritized bilateral deals and economic pressure campaigns over multilateral frameworks, emphasizing national interest in trade and security negotiations, which supporters argue reduces U.S. burden-sharing costs, particularly within NATO debates. Critics say expanded use of sanctions, tariffs, and defense leverage reflects a strategy of coercive bargaining rather than consensus-based diplomacy.