From tariffs to Ukraine and migration, Donald Trump has spent the first 100 days of his new presidency trying to deliver on controversial campaign promises - with mixed results and sharp criticism at home and around the world.
Donald tramp is the president for the second time SAD. Which of his promises did he put into practice? "The first 100 days were like a hurricane, and not always in the right direction," says Professor Malone in an interview with DW.
With his inauguration on January 20, 2025, Donald Trump became the President of the United States of America for the second time. So much has changed in American politics since then that 100 days seems like an almost impossibly short period of time for - a complete 180-degree turn of the country. Whether it's a change of direction in foreign policy or the introduction of tariffs on products from around the world - hardly a day goes by without some "breaking news" leaking from the White House.
"Regardless of which side you're on, most people would confirm that a lot has been going on," says Patrick Malone, a professor of public administration and politics at American University, in an interview with DW about Trump's second presidential phase so far. The president "fired all guns blazing from the beginning."
There is a strategy behind it. With the constant announcement of new extreme moves - many of which strike at the very foundations of American democracy - Trump's opponents should be paralyzed, almost "frozen".
US citizens who oppose the new course often don't even know what to protest against first: Trump's complete disregard for climate change and plans for increased oil drilling? Against undermining the separation of powers when the government deports migrants despite clear orders from federal courts? Against limiting the freedom of media and opinion when unfit journalists are kicked out of the White House, and researchers and even entire universities are denied funding?
The second Trump administration is dividing the country more than ever before. The question arises: how much has Trump fulfilled so far of what he promised his supporters before the elections in November 2024?
Nothing from peace in Ukraine in 24 hours
In May 2023, Trump promised that, if elected, he would immediately end the war in Ukraine: "I will solve it - in 24 hours."
However, the war still rages. Trump had to admit that even he could not stop the conflict so quickly. The US is now looking for a solution without much consultation with its alliance partners - and at the same time taking a position closer to Russia than to Ukraine. Already in the first conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump made far-reaching concessions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, suffered humiliation at the White House: Trump and Vice President JD Vance reprimanded him for alleged ingratitude. Military aid to Ukraine is frozen. Recently, Trump sharply criticized Kiev for sticking to the demand for the return of Crimea, instead of handing over the peninsula to Russia, for the sake of peace. Ukrainians, affected by the war, are shocked by the turn of their most important ally.
Western partners of the US are also worried. Trump has repeatedly questioned America's loyalty to NATO. He even stated that he would not defend members who do not spend enough on their own defense. Although he later tried to tone down those statements, it became clear: European countries can no longer fully count on their former staunch ally.
Trump (and Biden) and deportations
Migration policy was one of Trump's main weapons in the campaign. In October 2024, he promised that if he won, he would launch the largest deportation program in US history. The criminals, he said, "will be put in prison and thrown out of the country as soon as possible."
In February 2025, the first full month of its mandate, the Trump administration deported about 11.000 migrants - slightly less than when under the then new Biden, about 2021 were deported in February 12.000.
However, under Trump, fewer migrants are coming across the southern border with Mexico, NBC News reports. "Trump has definitely made immigration more difficult," Malone says. "Some see it as a success, others see it as a violation of American values."
Economy - "America is back"
Trump has promised that under his leadership the American economy will flourish. One of his pledges was to "make America affordable again" - that is, to lower prices, among other things by reducing the cost of the war in Ukraine.
In some areas this has indeed happened: petrol prices have fallen, as have the costs of flights and hotel accommodation, and overall inflation has eased. According to data from the AP agency, "core prices" (excluding fuel and food) in March were 2,8 percent higher than the previous year - the smallest increase in almost four years.
"President Trump's policies are helping to keep inflation under control," Stephen Mirran, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, told CNBC. "Combined with developments in commerce, that allows us to say: America is back."
Still, for many Americans, shopping at supermarkets remains as expensive as it was at the beginning of Trump's second term - three months ago. A weekly purchase for a two-person household still often exceeds $150 – even outside the most expensive cities.
Trump tariffs: bothćis fulfilled
Trump has promised to end "ridiculously open borders" and stop the US trade deficit. He announced the introduction of tariffs in the amount that partners charge on American products - and he implemented this in April. In many cases, US tariffs were even higher.
Promise - fulfilled. But the consequences are not harmless: some products have become more expensive for American consumers, and relations with traditional trading partners are threatened.
"The first 100 days were like a hurricane"
According to a survey by the Pew Institute, Americans are more critical of the economic situation in April than in February 2025: At that time, 40 percent of respondents believed that the situation would be better in a year, 37 percent expected it to worsen. In April, 36 percent expected an improvement, while 45 percent believed that the economic situation would worsen.
One of the reasons for greater uncertainty is that the Trump administration is introducing and removing tariffs almost overnight. Such vacillation, says Professor Malone, is bad for the basic pillar of any good government: stability.
"The first 100 days were like a hurricane, and not always in the right direction," he says. The Trump administration makes decisions - then reverses them. This was the case not only with customs, but also with mass layoffs in ministries. First, thousands of people were fired, but later it turned out that some of them - for example in the fields of aviation and nuclear security - were still necessary and had to be reinstated.
"Every government needs consistency, predictability and stability. And we don't have that right now," says Malone.
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