TRUMP: The Second Round–100 days does not a presidency make!
A whirlwind begins
Apr 30, 2025
Are the past 100 days simply the second round, or are they something more? One thing is certain–100 days does not a presidency make! One must remember that as the torrent of news, crisis on crisis, caterwauling and general mayhem continues.
The beginning is just that, a beginning. It is not an ending. While it is important to set a tone, we are too often taken in by the moment. There is an old saying that one ought not read his own headlines, and that is particularly true in this second Trump term. It’s simply too easy to say “This is great” only to find out next year that such greatness has turned into something else. Sustaining the momentum over a long period separates the good from the great (think baseball–20 years of greatness to make the Hall of Fame). So, even as we cheer these first days, let’s remember how much more will be required. With that in mind let’s discuss the good and the not-so-good.
TRANSACTIONAL: Trump is a transactional guy. He is defined by his ability to make a deal and not by his ideology. This can be something to admire, but it also plants the seeds for future concerns. This could not be more obvious than in the TARIFFS. Let’s be clear, there is no historical evidence that I am aware of to support tariffs as a long-term strategy. Tariffs raise the cost of goods. That’s the point. Tariffs skew the market. That, of course, can be laudatory where, as here, the goal is to encourage domestic manufacturing and thus protect our country from potential enemies. We must, after all, have a high-quality steel industry and we must have a pharmaceutical base that protects Americans’ health. But, as a long-term strategy, tariffs do not work. Trump, being entirely transactional, is likely to use the tariffs as short-term leverage and if so, they could be a great success. 
It will, however, be years (maybe decades) before we know success or failure. So, 100 days may feel good, but history will judge on a much different temporal plain.
WARS: The Ukraine, the Middle East, China, Russia, Pakistan and India all are in conflict or on the brink. This we all knew in 2024 as the weakest President in modern times took us to the brink of extinction. (Recent reporting confirms that the Biden White House was aware of how close we were to nuclear conflict, but they simply ignored it.) Moreover, there is little doubt that the post-WWII world order is an anachronism. It was crumbling and now Trump and Vance are taking a wrecking ball to what remains. Again, how this may come out remains unknown. But something had to be done, and the world feels safer with a real President, with a real agenda, with a real understanding of how international diplomacy works. Hegseth at defense and Rubio at State are leading the way and while this area may yet be problematic, we all sleep better knowing Trump and Vance are on the job. The groundwork is in place, but do not be surprised if things do not go as planned.
MIGRANT INVASION: Here we have an unequivocal WIN in the first 100 days. The border is shut, and the process of removal and future stability is well under way. On this one, the first 100 days is probably the high-water mark, and history will judge Trump a success.
CENSORSHIP: Writing here today is far different than writing here just a year ago. One year ago, Arkansas 1st might have been shut down, and certainly writers like myself had to be concerned about which government agency would look over my shoulder. We have, in large measure, returned to a society with Freedom of Speech. This may well be the single most important act of the Trump Presidency. Freedom produces benefits far beyond the moment. Here, a big credit goes to Elon Musk. Love him or hate him, he has reinvigorated our most important freedom–the freedom speak. And speaking of Musk….
DOGE/GOVERNMENT SPENDING. OK, something at least got started on cutting government spending in the first 100 days. But does anyone really think it will result in a real reduction in the size of government? Clearly, much more than a 100 day sprint will be required, and we will wait and see.
JUSTICE: While the pardon of the J6’rs was a good start, the first 100 days have been a categorical disappointment in bringing to justice those who perpetrated the great J6 panic, the past impeachments and a host of other nefarious acts. Biden’s minders did their best by abusing the pardon power to ‘protect’ those who had done such great damage to the rule of law in the past 4+ years, and now nothing has been done of consequence (except the J6 pardons) to do justice. We’ll see if anything comes of the promises to ferret out the evil and punish the evil doers. Nothing so far.
EXECUTIVE ACTIONS. Trump has used Executive Actions more than anyone could have imagined. Nearly everyone cheers him on, but should they? What’s to stop the next Democrat/Progressive President from utilizing similar actions in the reverse? The Patriot Act, post 9/11, provided enormous powers that ultimately were abused by Obama and Biden. The same may be true of using Executive Actions. The seeds of real mischief may have been planted in these first 100 days. But, of course, in the face of a negligent, often useless, Congress, a transactional guy like Trump will certainly act.
TAXES/DEFENSE SPENDING/MUCH MORE. There is so much more yet to do… Let’s hold off on grades and kudos.
It’s been a tiring and exciting time, these first 100 days. There is much that has been done, but there is so much more to do. God Speed to the President!
Retired Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge. President Trump’s attorney in 2020. Speaker, columnist, talk radio guest, father, grandfather and fisherman. Lawfare Triage | Where Deception Dies
Congress, the Republican Congress, needs to act. Placing a full stop on certain things that no reasonable person could vote against could be done in one page bills. Make them vote and vote often. Bad Republicans will have to vote with good Republicans because there will be no place to hide in bill. We could correct a lot of problems quickly if the Republicans were focused on doing what is right for our country instead of what is right for the lobbies and constituents that have them by the pocketbook.