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Second presidency of Donald Trump
U.S. presidential administration since 2025 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Donald Trump's second and current tenure as the president of the United States began upon his inauguration as the 47th president on January 20, 2025, after defeating then-Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Trump, a Republican, had previously served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021 and lost to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.
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In the first eight months of his second presidency, Trump signed over 200 executive orders, many of which have been or are being challenged in court.[1] His attempts to expand presidential power and conflict with the courts have been described as a defining characteristic of his second presidency.[2] The Trump administration has taken action against law firms for challenging Trump's policies. On immigration, Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law, issued orders blocking non-citizens from entering the U.S., reinstated the national emergency at the Mexico–U.S. border, designated drug cartels as terrorist organizations, attempted to restrict birthright citizenship, and initiated procedures for mass deportations, including mass ICE raids across the United States.
Trump established a task force known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tasked with reducing spending by the federal government and limiting bureaucracy, which has overseen mass layoffs of civil servants, vast cuts in agency spending, and efforts to dismantle agencies such as USAID.
Trump has overseen a series of tariff increases and pauses,[3][4] which has led to retaliatory tariffs from other countries.[5] These tariff moves, particularly the "Liberation Day" tariffs,[6] caused a brief stock market crash and subsequent market volatility. In international affairs, Trump has further strengthened U.S. relations with Israel. His administration aided Israel in the June 2025 Iran–Israel war and brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Amid the Russo-Ukrainian war that began in 2022, the Trump administration undertook multiple attempts at peace negotiations. As with his first term, Trump initiated the withdrawal of the U.S. from the World Health Organization, the Paris Climate Accords, and UNESCO.[7]
His second term saw widespread criticism for his targeting of political opponents and civil society. Many of his administration's actions were found by judges to be illegal and unconstitutional,[8][9][10][11] and were criticized as authoritarian and contributing to democratic backsliding. Trump is the second U.S. president to serve nonconsecutive terms[a] and the first with a felony conviction.[b] At 78 years old and seven months, he is the oldest person to become president. Following his electoral victories in 2016 and 2024, he is constitutionally limited from seeking further terms due to the Twenty-second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
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2024 election
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Trump, who previously served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021 and lost his reelection bid to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election,[12] announced his candidacy for the nomination of the Republican Party in the 2024 presidential election on November 15, 2022.[13][14] In March 2024, Trump secured the Republican nomination. Trump selected Senator JD Vance of Ohio, a former critic of his, as his running mate, and the two were officially nominated at the 2024 Republican National Convention.[15] On July 13, Trump was the victim of an attempted assassination during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.[16]
Early on November 6, 2024, the day after the election, Trump was projected to have secured the presidency.[17][18] Trump won the presidential election with 312 electoral votes, while Kamala Harris received 226.[19] Trump, upon taking office, was the second president in U.S. history to serve non-consecutive terms after Grover Cleveland in 1893,[20] the oldest individual to assume the presidency, and the first convicted felon to serve the presidency following his conviction in May 2024.[21] Vance, as the third-youngest vice president in U.S. history, became the first Millennial vice president.[21] In the concurrent congressional elections, Republicans retained a reduced majority in the House of Representatives and took control of the Senate.[22]
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Transition period, inauguration, and first 100 days
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Inaugural portrait
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Incumbent president Joe Biden and President-elect Trump in the Oval Office on November 13, 2024
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Chief Justice John Roberts administers the presidential oath of office to Trump in the Capitol rotunda, January 20, 2025
The presidential transition period began following Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, though Trump had chosen Linda McMahon and Howard Lutnick to begin planning for the transition in August 2024. According to The New York Times, Trump was "superstitious" and preferred to avoid discussing the presidential transition process until after Election Day. His transition team relied on the work of the America First Policy Institute, rather than the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank that garnered controversy during the election for Project 2025, a set of initiatives that would reshape the federal government.[23] By October, he had not participated in the federal presidential transition process,[24] and he had not signed a required ethics pledge, as of November.[25]
During the transition period, Trump announced nominations for his cabinet and administration. Trump was inaugurated on January 20, 2025, officially assuming the presidency at 12:00 pm, EST.[26] He was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts.[27] The inauguration occurred indoors in the Capitol Rotunda.[28] Two days before the inauguration, Trump launched a meme coin, $Trump.[29] In his first weeks, several of Trump's actions ignored or violated federal laws, regulations, and the Constitution.[30][31]
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Administration
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Cabinet
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Trump's cabinet choices were described by news media as valuing personal loyalty over relevant experience,[32][33] and for having a range of conflicting ideologies and "eclectic personalities".[34][35] It was also described as the wealthiest administration in modern history, with over 13 billionaires chosen to take government posts.[36][37] He nominated or appointed 23 former Fox News employees to his administration.[38]
Loyalty tests
Once the second Trump presidency began, White House screening teams fanned out to federal agencies to screen job applicants for their loyalty to the president's agenda. On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order asserting to restore merit-based federal hiring practices and "dedication to our Constitution".[39][40] As part of its U.S. federal deferred resignation program, the Trump administration demanded "loyalty" from federal workers.[41] In a break from politically neutral speech, the Justice Department issued memos about "insubordination", "abhorrent conduct" and vowed to pursue opponents of Trump's cost-cutting efforts "to the ends of the Earth" in what was described by current and former law enforcement officials as a campaign of intimidation against agents insufficiently loyal to Trump.[42]
Staffers were dispatched across federal agencies to look for anti-Trump sentiment among government agencies. Some new hires were told to provide examples of what they did to help Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, when their moment of "MAGA revelation" occurred, prove their "enthusiasm", be positively referenced by confirmed loyalists, and provide access to their social media handles. The Associated Press described the intense loyalty tests as a way to separate individuals following traditional Republican orthodoxy from Trump's MAGA ideology.[39] Candidates for top national intelligence and law enforcement positions were given Trump loyalty tests. Candidates were asked to give yes or no responses to whether or not January 6 was an "inside job" and whether or not the 2020 election was "stolen". Those that did not say yes to both answers were not hired.[43]
Advisors
Trump had assistance from Elon Musk, other political operatives, and an antisemitism task force.[44] Advisors were Christopher Rufo in education; Stephen Miller in domestic policy and immigration; and four co-authors of Project 2025: Russell Vought, Peter Navarro, Paul S. Atkins, and Brendan Carr.[45]
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Executive orders
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Trump began office with the most executive orders ever signed on the first day of a United States presidential term,[46] at 26 executive orders.[47] Following behind Trump's executive order tally is Joe Biden at 9 executive orders on January 20, 2021,[48] then Barack Obama at 2 executive orders, and Bill Clinton at 1 executive order.[49] Trump's signing of executive orders was described as a "shock and awe" campaign that tested the limits of executive authority.[50][51] Four days into Trump's second term, analysis conducted by Time found that nearly two-thirds of his executive actions "mirror or partially mirror" proposals from Project 2025,[52] which was seconded with analysis from Bloomberg Government.[53]
The signing of many of Trump's executive orders are being challenged in court, with the executive orders affecting federal funding, federal employee status, immigration, federal programs, government data availability, and more. The majority of the early cases were filed in response to executive orders related to the establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Executive Order 14158, and the actions taken by Elon Musk and the DOGE team towards federal agencies described as cost-cutting measures.[54]
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Domestic policy
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Abortion
In April 2024, Former-President Trump had declared that abortion should be delegated to states.[55][56] He said he wouldn’t sign a federal ban and criticized the Arizona Supreme Court's ruling in Planned Parenthood Arizona v. Mayes (2024), which upheld an 1864 law.[57][58]
The Alabama Supreme Court ruled in LePage v. Center for Reproductive Medicine (2024) that frozen embryos are living beings. In contrast, Trump positioned himself in favor of in vitro fertilisation (IVF).[59][60]
On January 24, 2025, Trump reinstated the Mexico City policy ("global gag rule"), which had been rescinded by the Biden administration. Since Reagan in the 1980s, this rule has been put in place during Republican administrations and rescinded during Democratic administrations.[61]
In May 2025, in a case involving telehealth prescriptions and the abortion-drug Mifepristone, the Trump administration asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that the states involve did not have standing. This case was Missouri v. FDA brought before Federal Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in the Northern District of Texas. The states involved were Missouri, Idaho, and Kansas.[62][63][64]
In June 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ended the rule which required hospitals to provide emergency abortions under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act.[65][66][67]
In October 2025, the Food and Drug Administration approved a generic version of the abortion pill mifepristone, allowing three U.S. companies to produce it and expanding access to medication abortion. The administration has not implemented major new restrictions on medication abortion, although Health and Human Services officials announced a review of mifepristone’s safety in response to pressure from opponents.[68][69]
Anti-LGBTQ+ policies
During his second presidency beginning in 2025, Donald Trump launched an aggressive campaign of anti-LGBTQ+ and especially anti-transgender policies that eliminated federal recognition of transgender people, stripped legal protections, and sought to erase trans identities from public life.[70] Through a series of executive orders, his administration defined sex strictly by birth biology, banned trans people from the military,[71] restricted or defunded gender-affirming healthcare, censored research and education materials,[72] and targeted schools, universities, and cultural institutions accused of promoting "gender ideology." Additional measures barred transgender athletes from sports, limited passport access,[73] and fueled international efforts to undermine trans rights. Accompanied by rhetoric portraying transgender people as a societal threat, these policies triggered widespread legal challenges, condemnation from human rights groups, and a surge in emigration and asylum claims by transgender Americans.[70]
"Big, Beautiful" Budget Act
 | This section needs to be updated. (July 2025) |
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act[74][75] includes hundreds of provisions, is estimated to add roughly $3 trillion to the national debt[76][77] and is projected to cut approximately $4.46 trillion in tax revenue over a 10-year period.[78][79] The Act permanently extends the individual tax rates Trump signed into law in 2017, which were set to expire at the end of 2025.[80][81]
Establishes a $50 billion Rural Hospital Fund, up from $25 billion, to support health care providers in rural areas, providing a safety net against Medicaid cuts;[76][82]
The bill cuts over $1.2 trillion in federal spending,[76] primarily from Medicaid[80] and nutrition funding SNAP.[83] This Act:
- Requires states to charge enrollees in Medicaid expansion states with family incomes between 100 and 138 percent of the federal poverty level up to $35 for each health care service, if they qualify for Medicaid based on income alone.[84]
- Adds work requirements for Medicaid recipients for the first time, with individuals ages 19 to 64 required to work at least 80 hours per month. Some exemptions exist for adults with dependent children ages 14 and under and those with medical conditions;[85]
- Cuts the Medicaid provider tax, which helps states fund their Medicaid costs, from 6% to 3.5% by 2031;[76]
Climate science
Within hours of his January 2025 inauguration, Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the country from the 2015 Paris Agreement, joining only Iran, Libya and Yemen as the only countries not party to the agreement.[86] The same day, Trump issued Executive Order 14154, "Unleashing American Energy", which included pausing funding for the Inflation Reduction Act and revocation of the Green New Deal,[87] introducing uncertainty as to the energy transition.[88] His administration soon renewed a practice from his first term: removing mentions of climate change across numerous federal government websites that had been reinstated during Joe Biden's intervening term.[89] In April, Trump dismissed the scientists and experts who compile the National Climate Assessments (NCAs) that are required by Congress, the next assessment having been planned for 2028.[90] The globalchange.gov website—established in 1990 to host legislatively mandated reports such as the NCAs—was taken down altogether at the end of June.[91]
In May, NOAA said that its National Centers for Environmental Information would no longer update its Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters database beyond 2024, and that its information—going as far back as 1980—would be archived.[92] In July, the chief administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency announced rescinding of the 2009 endangerment finding, which concluded that planet-warming greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health.[93] (The endangerment finding is the scientific determination that underpins the federal government’s legal authority to combat climate change.[93])
Deployment of federal forces
During the June 2025 Los Angeles protests against local immigration raids, against the wishes of the governor of California and the mayor of Los Angeles, Trump federalized the California National Guard and deployed them to Los Angeles along with 700 Marines.
During the federal takeover of Washington, D.C., approximately 2,000 National Guard troops, including about 800 from D.C. were deployed in August 2025.[94] The administration federalized the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department for 30 days and armed the troops for patrols in tourist areas rather than high-crime zones.[95]
On September 12, 2025, Trump announced the deployment of National Guardsmen to Memphis, Tennessee, saying that "Memphis is deeply troubled." He did not specify when the troops would be deployed to the city.[96] On September 15, 2025, Trump signed a presidential memorandum ordering the deployment of federal law enforcement as part of a task force with Tennessee's National Guard.[97] On October 1, 2025, an increased presence of federal law enforcement was visible in Memphis. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a social media post that the Memphis Safe Task Force has made more than 50 arrests over two days. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee indicated that he believed that any deployment of National Guard troops would include no more than 150 unarmed personnel.[98][99]
FEMA
In April, the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied an extension of benefits for areas in Georgia and North Carolina which had been hit by Hurricane Helene in September 2024.[100]
Tornadoes hit parts the state of Mississippi in mid-March and a major disaster declaration by the federal government took more than two months, even at the request of Republican Governor Tate Reeves of Mississippi.[101] On May 23, the Trump administration approved disaster aid for areas within 8 states including Mississippi. The other 7 states with areas so designated are Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.[102]
Mass firings
Trump oversaw mass firings of federal workers at various agencies, many of them described as breaking with precedent or federal law and with the intent to replace them with workers more aligned with Trump's agenda.[103][104][105][106] On January 24, 2025, less than a week into Trump's second presidency, he fired 17 independent inspectors general at federal agencies, which appeared to violate federal law that requires advance notice of dismissals to both chambers of congress with reasons given 30 days in advance.[107] Trump also fired all Democratic but not Republican members of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, which would prevent the board from meeting quorum and functioning.[108] Trump also fired members of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, National Labor Relations Board, over 160 members of the National Security Council for not aligning with his agenda, and 56 senior officials at USAID for allegedly attempting to thwart his priorities.[103]
On August 22, 2025, the Trump administration fired Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse who had been the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, reportedly because his preliminary assessments regarding the June bombing of nuclear sites in Iran disagreed with President Trump’s public address to the nation that the Iraq nuclear program had been set back “basically decades.” Also on August 22, CBS News confirmed that Rear Adm. Milton Sands, who had served as commander of Navy Special Warfare, and Vice Adm. Nancy Lacore, who had been the chief of the Navy Reserve, both had been fired. In addition, CBS News reported that Maj. Gen. J. Patrick Work, commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division, had “recently” been pulled from a future role as deputy commander of U.S. Central Command.[109]
Firing of BLS director
In early August, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) revised their numbers for May from 125,000 new jobs to 19,000, and their June numbers from 147,000 new jobs to 14,000. The BLS frequently revises monthly jobs numbers, but typically not to this extent.[110] For the United States, unemployment is still low at 4.2%. The BLS estimates that 73,000 new jobs were added in July.[110]
President Trump fired BLS Director Erika McEntarfer. On social media, he wrote, “No one can be that wrong? We need accurate Jobs Numbers. She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified. Important numbers like this must be fair and accurate, they can’t be manipulated for political purposes.”[110]
In the last 10 years, companies have responded slower to the jobs survey and the percentage of companies responding at all has fallen. However, the survey gets responses from roughly 200,000 business locations, which can be independent companies or franchise owners.[110] Two former commissioners with the BLS, including one appointed by Trump during his first term, made public statements criticizing the firing and supporting Director McEntarfer. Associated Press describes the economic data provided by the United States government as having long being regarded as the gold standard of economic measurement.[110]
Free speech
On September 23, 2025, an anonymous group of artists had installed a statue of Trump and Jeffrey Epstein entitled "Best Friends Forever" on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The 12-foot tall, bronze-sprayed statue depicted Trump and Epstein holding hands and dancing. A plaque underneath it read, "We celebrate the long-lasting bond between President Donald J. Trump and his 'closest friend,' Jeffrey Epstein". The group had a permit for an art installation from September 23 to 28 for artwork "to demonstrate freedom of speech and artistic expression using political imagery". By the next morning U.S. Park Police had removed the statue, later saying it was not in compliance with the permit. A White House spokeswoman said in a September 23 email to the Washington Post that "Liberals are free to waste their money however they see fit — but it's not news that Epstein knew Donald Trump".[111][112]
Government shutdown in early October
Because the Senate could not muster 60 votes per filibuster rules, funding for non-essential services ended October 1, 2025. The Senate has had several votes, with one on October 3 failing 54-44. An alternative offered by the Democratic Party failed 46-52.[113]
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said, ”We have a majority of senators — 55 senators have already voted for this clean, short-term, nonpartisan CR,” with CR meaning Continuing Resolution. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer spoke from the floor of the Senate and said 70% of Americans supported keeping the same money for the ACA, or Affordable Care Act. He also claimed that a survey by KFF showed that 57% of MAGA supporters favored keeping the money the same for ACA.[113]
Health policy
On November 14, Trump announced that he would nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services Secretary. This was controversial given Kennedy's repeated endorsement of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. The director of the American Public Health Association, America's largest organization of public health professionals, said, "He is not competent by training, management skills, temperament or trust to have this job."[114] In December, Trump revealed he was discussing ending childhood vaccination programs with Kennedy and promoted the scientifically debunked claim of a link between vaccines and autism.[115]
On February 18, Trump signed an executive order calling for the policy recommendations for reducing the out-of-pocket costs of IVF, or In Vitro Fertilisation.[60][116] On February 25, Trump signed an executive order to improve healthcare cost transparency.[117]
By late April, the Trump administration had placed on leave and then temporarily rehired federal employees in the NIOSH, or National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, who had been involved in monitoring for black lung disease.[118]
On June 9, Kennedy fired all 17 members of the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices. He claimed that it "has become little more than a rubber stamp for any vaccine." Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), a medical doctor, said "now the fear is that the ACIP will be filled up with people who know nothing about vaccines except suspicion." These firings came before a scheduled June 25 meeting in which the Committee was expected to issue new recommendations for vaccines including COVID-19.[119][120]
In late January, several CDC websites, pages, and datasets related to HIV and STI prevention, LGBT and youth health became unavailable for viewing.[121][122] Shortly thereafter, the CDC ordered its scientists to retract or pause the publication of all research which had been submitted or accepted for publication, but not yet published, which included any of the following banned terms: "Gender, transgender, pregnant person, pregnant people, LGBT, transsexual, non-binary, nonbinary, assigned male at birth, assigned female at birth, biologically male, biologically female."[123]
In mid-February, around 1,300 CDC employees were laid off.[124] In April, it was reported that among the reductions were the elimination of the Freedom of Information Act team, the Division of Violence Prevention, labs involved in testing for antibiotic resistance, and the team responsible for recalls of hazardous infant products. Additional cuts affected the technology branch of the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics, which was established during the COVID-19 pandemic.[125]
On June 25, 2025, Kennedy announced that the U.S. was stopping its donations to the Gavi vaccine alliance, until Gavi can better demonstrate vaccine safety.[126][127] The United States had been providing approximately 13 percent of Gavi’s budget.[128]
On August 5, 2025, Secretary Kennedy announced that he was stopping 22 vaccine projects using mRNA technology, including Covid, RSV, and bird flu. A critic of this funding halt pointed out that mRNA vaccines have the potential for faster roll-out.[129]
2025 CDC leadership dispute
On May 14, 2025, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that lawyer Matthew Buzzelli is acting CDC director, though the CDC web site did not list that name.[130][131]
Susan Monarez was confirmed as CDC head on July 31, 2025, but on August 27, it was announced on X (formerly Twitter) that she had been fired. Monarez disputed the legality of the firing, as it had not been carried out by the President, and it had been falsely reported that she had resigned. The President later officially carried out the firing.[132] Monarez was fired after refusing to rubber stamp what were expected to be unscientific recommendations from the and to fire senior staff vaccine experts. The dispute began over demands from Kennedy and his top staff for changing the recommendation for COVID vaccine to persons with higher-risk conditions and senior citizens only. The official recommendation also affects insurance coverage and whether vaccines are available in pharmacies. Senator Bill Cassidy (Republican - Louisiana), who is a medical doctor, called for the next meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to be postponed. He said, “Serious allegations have been made about the meeting agenda, membership, and lack of scientific process being followed for the now announced September ACIP meeting. These decisions directly impact children's health and the meeting should not occur until significant oversight has been conducted.”[133][134] The next day, the Trump administration announced the selection of Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim O'Neill as a replacement.[135]
Following news of Monarez's ouster, at least four other CDC senior officials announced their resignations:[136][137][138]
- Debra Houry, Chief Medical Officer
- Demetre Daskalakis, Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
- Daniel Jernigan, Director of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
- Jennifer Layden, Director of the Office of Public Health Data, Surveillance, and Technology, which contains the National Center for Health Statistics
Dozens of CDC employees walked out of headquarters and protested in support of Monarez and the departing officials.[139]
Claims about autism
On September 22, 2025, Trump and other U.S. Department of Human Service officials delivered speeches issuing a major agenda for combating autism. Warnings were for doctors not to recommend during pregnancy the pain- and fever-reducer acetaminophen, which is commonly used as an ingredient in Tylenol.[140][141] These warnings were issued in spite of the fact that medical experts have found no causal link between autism and the use of acetampimophen, with autism generally established to be a result of complex neurological factors.[142] The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said, "There is no clear evidence that proves a direct relationship between the prudent use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and fetal developmental issues."[143]
Also on September 22, Trump also spoke in favor of and the FDA approved the use of the chemotheraphy drug leucovorin to also help alleviate the symptoms of autism.[140] However, the justification for this approval was based on limited evidence.[141] A CBS News contributor said, "Not all children with autism have this defect, so there's a test you can do to assess whether that's what's at play. For those kids, leucovorin has been shown to help, particularly with speech, getting kids to be more verbal than they were before."[143] The National Institute of Health (NIH) was also granted $50 million in funding for 13 projects to help transform autism research through the proposed Autism Data Science Initiative.[140]
In an April 2025 article, Scientific American estimated that two-thirds of the increase in autism was due to better diagnosis and the desire on the part of parents and schools to get started with early intervention. However, the article estimated that one-third was due to an actual increase from a variety of factors such as mothers in richer countries being older on average at childbirth, the ability to keep more premature children alive and healthy, and small-particle air pollution during the 3rd trimester which can cause an inflammatory response. In addition, Scientific American writes that “infections that are accompanied by fever in the second [2nd] trimester raise the risk of autism.”[144]
Immigration
According to The New York Times, President-elect Trump stated his intentions to revive the immigration policies from his first presidency, including a travel ban on refugees from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Other policies included expulsion of asylum seekers by asserting that they carry infectious diseases, deputization of police officers and soldiers to assist in mass deportations, and the establishment of sprawling detention camps.[145] Trump said "there is no price tag" to carry out these deportations.[146] On November 10, 2024, Trump announced that Tom Homan would be joining the incoming administration as the "border czar."[147]
While border crossings reached record highs during the first half of the Biden presidency, they fell to lower levels near the end of his term and continued at these lower levels into Trump's 2nd presidency.[148]
Shortly after he became president on January 20, 2025, the Trump administration ended services for the app of CBP One, reinstated the national emergency at the southern border, ordered the armed forces to draft plans for deployment,[149][150] and began the steps towards labeling Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations.[151] Trump increased deportation authorities for the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Marshals Service.[152]
He gave ICE the power to deport immigrants who had come to the United States legally under Biden administration programs,[153] and established daily deportation quotas to ICE offices.[154]
Trump also signed an executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship for children of unauthorized immigrants as well as immigrants legally but temporarily present in the United States. At least nine lawsuits have been filed challenging the order on constitutional grounds, and as of February 2025[update], four federal judges have issued preliminary injunctions blocking its implementation and enforcement nationwide.[155][156][157] On June 27, the Supreme Court limited the ability of individual District Judges to issue injunctions against executive actions, meaning to pause executive action. The Supreme Court did not rule on the merits of birthright citizenship. District Judges can still issue injunctions in limited circumstances, such as for persons directly involved in a class action lawsuit.[158]
On January 22, 2025, Trump ended the policy from 2011 which prohibited immigration arrests in sensitive areas such as courthouses, schools, churches, and hospitals, or during funerals and weddings.[159] NPR reported that a "growing number" of Democrat and Republican officials in cities, states, police departments, school districts and other local governments stated they would not assist in migrant raids citing public safety, civil rights, and administrative capability concerns.[160] On January 29, Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law, the first legislation of his second term.[161][162] On the same day, he signed a presidential memorandum to begin expansion of the Guantanamo Migrant Operations Center to house up to 30,000 migrants under detention, separate from the high security military prison at Guantanamo Bay.
On February 6, U.S. Border Patrol chief Michael W. Banks claimed that illegal border crossings were already down almost 90% since Trump's inauguration, and that criminal prosecutions of those apprehended were up more than 50%.[163] On February 25, Trump announced that the US would launch "Gold Card" residency permits for wealthy immigrants for a price of US$5 million, with an estimated release near the end of March 2025.[164] Trump deported 37,660 people during his first month in office.[165]
In response to injunctions countering his deportations, Trump considered suspending habeas corpus.[166] Stephen Miller in May 2025 said regarding immigration cases that "habeas corpus can be suspended in a time of invasion", and that the Trump administration was "actively looking at" carrying out such a suspension, depending on "whether the courts do the right thing or not"; Article One of the United States Constitution forbids such a suspension "unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it."[167]
On July 1, Trump toured a newly-built facility in the Florida Everglades nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz". This facility is designed to keep 3,000 persons in detention.[168] On July 10, the Department of Health and Human Services announced they would be restricting undocumented immigrants from enrolling for Head Start, a federally funded U.S. preschool program.[169]
The administration announced on August 21, 2025, that it would be reviewing all 55 million visa holders in the United States.[170]
Mass Layoffs
On February 13, Charles Ezell, acting director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, signed a directive instructing federal agencies to dismiss probationary employees—generally, federal workers who have held their jobs less than a year, or had been promoted into the excepted service during that time.[171][172] Ezell told agencies to tell the fired employees that their performance was inadequate, and that they needed to cite no evidence.[173]
As of May 12, 2025[update], The New York Times tracked more than 58,000 confirmed cuts, more than 76,000 employee buyouts, and more than 149,000 other planned reductions; cuts total 12% of the 2.4 million civilian federal workers.[174] As of July 14, 2025[update], CNN has tracked more than 128,000 workers laid off or targeted for layoffs.[175] The administration took back some layoffs such as for bird flu and nuclear safety.[176]
Social Security
On March 18, 2025, the Social Security Administration announced they would be implementing tighter identity requirements starting March 31,[177][178] with this date pushed forward to April 14. The new policy requires takes away the telephone option and requires individuals to either apply online or appear in-person at a field office.[179] Applications for SSDI, Medicare, or SSI are exempted from this in-person requirement, along with applicants subject to extreme situations “such as terminal cases or prisoner pre-release scenarios.”[179] This new policy comes at a time the Trump administration is closing some field offices and laying off some Social Security staff.[180]
In late March, Wired reported that DOGE was putting together a team to migrate the Social Security base code from COBOL to a more modern programming language, with the goal of achieving this in a matter of months, whereas most experts say it should take several years to do and test this safely.[181][182]
It was reported in mid-April that the Trump administration had placed on the "Death Master File", renamed the "Ineligible Master File", more than 6,000 persons who are legal immigrants whom officials claim are either on a terrorism watch list or have an FBI criminal record. The White House, however, did not provide evidence for this claim.[183]
Social Security will "clawback" money from a disabled or retired person's monthly payments in cases in which overpayments are discovered. Overpayments can either be the fault of Social Security or of the recipient, for example, a person on SSDI disability not reporting monthly work income over a certain threshold. The Biden administration had capped the clawback rate at 10%, but this expired on March 27, 2025, reverting back to 100%. On April 25, the Trump administration reduced this clawback rate to 50%.[184]
Universities
In February 2025, Leo Terrell, the chair of the Department of Justice's Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, announced that he would investigate Columbia University, Harvard University, George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University, New York University, Northwestern University, Berkeley University, the University of California, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Southern California as part of the Department of Justice's broader investigation into antisemitism on college campuses.[185]
Trump's actions targeting higher education were described as part of an intimidation campaign against institutions viewed as hostile to his political views.[186][187] He targeted higher education by demanding it give federal oversight of curriculum and targeted activists, legal immigrants, tourists, and students with visas who expressed criticism of his policies or engaged in pro-Palestinian advocacy.[188] Trump froze billions of dollars in federal funding for multiple universities in express defiance of existing laws prohibiting such actions without following proper legal processes that did not happen.[189] The deals and demands made by Trump were criticized as coercive, a shakedown, and legalized extortion in what Axios described as pursuit of a "cultural crackdown".[190][189] On September 3, Judge Allison D. Burroughs found Trump's efforts to freeze billions of dollars of funding for Harvard illegal, writing that the government had infringed upon Harvard's free speech rights and that it was "difficult to conclude anything other than that defendants used antisemitism as a smokescreen for a targeted, ideologically-motivated assault on this country's premier universities".[191]
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Foreign policy
Summarize
Perspective
A 2025 Pew Research Center study found that more than half in 19 of 24 countries surveyed, said they lack confidence in Trump’s leadership of world affairs, with views about Trump differing sharply along ideological and partisan lines.[192]
Among 24 surveyed countries, Trump's 2025 ratings trailed those of Joe Biden's 2024 ratings by an average of twelve percentage points in world affairs, though Trump fared better among right-wing populist parties in Europe.[193]
Trump's second term foreign policy has been described as a mixture of both imperialist and expansionist policies.[194][195][196][197] He engaged in a realist and isolationist "America First" foreign policy agenda.[198][199] His administration favored hard power to achieve foreign policy goals,[200] and dismantled or withdrew support from domestic and international organizations dedicated to advancing American soft power.[201][202] The moves were described as ceding American global influence and creating a void filled by Russia and China.[203]
His relations with allies were transactional and ranged from indifference to hostility, and he threatened them with economic tariffs or annexation.[204][205] He was described as taking the side of Russia in the Russian invasion of Ukraine,[204][205][206] and overseeing a rupture of the post-1945 rules-based liberal international order and abandonment of multilateralism.[207][198][199]
Trump, historians, and commentators frequently compared his foreign policy to former president William McKinley in relation to expansionism and tariffs.[208][209][210] Michael Klare wrote that containing the influence of China and preventing the rise of any rival power is the central foreign policy objective of the Trump administration, comparing Trump's approach to the Wolfowitz Doctrine.[211] Trump has attempted to deepen the U.S.-India partnership.[212]
A combination of American allies, enemies, and critics have responded to comments and actions of the second Trump administration.[213] His administration saw large drops in global public opinion of the United States.[214] Countries like Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, Denmark and Finland warned their citizens about traveling to the U.S.[215][216][217][218][219]
Europe
NATO spending
The Trump administration has argued that European nations should contribute more to their own defense while the U.S. focuses on China.[220] During his 2024 campaign, he said he would not defend NATO allies if they did not meet the alliance's spending target of 2% of GDP on defense, and that he would "encourage" Russia to "do whatever the hell they want".[221][222][223] Trump officials privately expressed contempt for European "freeloading";.[224][225] Trump's policies and rhetoric accelerated an ongoing European rearmament.[226][227][228][229] Trump called Poland, which exceeds the NATO defense spending target, "one of the best groups of people I have ever met".[230]
Vice President JD Vance
Trump's administration has also expressed cultural disagreement with Europe and the European Union: in a speech at the 61st Munich Security Conference, Vice President Vance criticized European policies on free speech and democratic values, and accused European leaders of suppressing dissenting views on issues such as immigration.[220][231] Vance also expressed support for lifting restrictions on the Alternative for Germany, a far-right German political party.[232]
UK
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While meeting with British prime minister Keir Starmer in February 2025, Trump accepted a request from King Charles III for a state visit in the U.K.;[233][234] both Trump and Starmer praised the U.S.–U.K. "Special Relationship".[233] The state visit occurred between September 16–18 2025.[235]
Ukraine
Trump began a push for peace negotiations to end the Russia–Ukraine war.[236] Trump's first foreign visit as president-elect was to Paris for the reopening of the Notre-Dame de Paris, during which he met with French president Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the war in Ukraine,[237][238] and met with other European officials.[239][240] In February 2025, Trump held phone calls with Russian president Vladimir Putin and with Zelenskyy that he said marked the beginning of negotiations.[241] He threatened Ukraine with a suspension of U.S. military aid[242] and Russia with sanctions and tariffs if he decided they were not negotiating in good faith.[243][244] The U.S. sought a mineral resources agreement with Ukraine[245] though was unwilling to offer postwar security guarantees for Ukraine in exchange.[245][246] Negotiators reached a deal on the agreement[247][248][249] but the agreement fell through after a contentious meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy in the Oval Office that ended when the Ukrainian delegation was abruptly asked to leave.[233][250] Afterwards, the U.K. and France developed a proposal in which a "coalition of the willing" would provide security guarantees to Ukraine.[251][252] The U.S. and Russia held a summit in Saudi Arabia for peace talks in February[253] and U.S. held a summit with Ukraine the next month, during which Ukraine accepted a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire.[254][255] Putin did not accept the ceasefire,[256] though on March 18 Russia agreed to a 30-day ceasefire only for strikes on energy infrastructure and in the Black Sea,[257] which Ukraine agreed to.[258][259]
On July 9, Trump reversed a previously suspended military aid package to Ukraine following Russia’s largest aerial assault on the country, involving hundreds of drones and missiles. The suspension, reportedly authorized by senior defense officials without Trump’s prior knowledge. Trump expressed growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of insincerity and relentless aggression, saying, “He wants to go all the way, just keep killing people, it’s no good.” The U.S. are discussing sending 10 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, and Trump said he is reviewing a proposed sanctions bill by Senator Lindsey Graham that would impose 500% tariffs on countries trading with Russia. Although Trump has previously mentioned secondary sanctions, none have been implemented so far, with the president citing their cost and waiting to see if a peace deal would emerge.[260] On July 14, 2025, Trump threatened to impose 100% tariffs and secondary sanctions on countries purchasing Russian oil if Russia did not agree to a ceasefire within 50 days.[261][262] Trump confirmed a summit meeting between him and Putin to be held on August 15, 2025, in Alaska[263] The high-level summit at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage concluded without progress toward a ceasefire. Following the talks, Trump suggested the United States could assist Ukraine with surveillance flights or air defense support, while ruling out the deployment of ground troops.[264][265]
Trump emphasized that European nations should shoulder the primary burden of assistance and pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to take greater responsibility in securing peace. He further hinted that Ukraine may eventually face difficult choices, including potential territorial concessions, to bring the conflict to an end.[266]
In September 2025, Trump urged Europe to stop buying Russian oil and start putting economic pressure on China for funding Russia's war effort.[267] Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Trump administration is "prepared to increase pressure on Russia, but we need our European partners to follow us."[268]
In September 2025, the Trump administration approved the delivery of the first two packages of weapons to Ukraine from US stockpiles totalling approximately $1 billion, which would be paid for by NATO allies, under the new mechanism called Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL). The mechanism aims to deliver aid worth up to $10 billion.[269] On September 27, 2025, President Zelenskyy announced a $90 billion arms agreement with the United States in works.[270]
Africa
South Africa
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Trump's administration strained relations with South Africa. Trump suspended all aid to South Africa, saying the country's land expropriation law discriminated against Afrikaners;[271] he also offered Afrikaners refugee status in the U.S.[220][272] Rubio refused to attend the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Johannesburg[273] and he declared the South African ambassador persona non grata for his criticism of U.S. policies.[274]
Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda
Rubio condemned the Rwandan-backed Goma offensive in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and called for an immediate ceasefire and respect for territorial integrity.[275] In April, U.S. officials entered into talks with the DRC on a minerals deal after a proposal from Congolese president Félix Tshisekedi.[276]
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In June 2025, President Trump brokered a peace deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, with the U.S. getting "a lot of mineral rights." This potentially brings to an end a 30+ year conflict dating back to the 1994 Rwanda genocide. Each country had accused the other of financing and supporting rebel groups. On June 27, in a deal signed in the White House, each country pledged to end such support, allow the return of refugees, and create a joint security coordination mechanism aimed at resolving disputes.[277]
An estimated 6 million persons have died in this conflict, and Trump said that this deal ends "one of the worst wars anyone's ever seen." A critic said, "It risks reducing peace to a transactional exchange. Minerals are only one driver of conflict." Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, "This is an important moment after 30 years of war. President Trump is a president of peace. He really does want peace. He prioritizes it above all else."[277] A former prime minister of the DR Congo, Joseph Kabila, expressed skepticism of the peace deal, saying that it was “nothing more than a trade agreement.”[278]
South Sudan
In April 2025, the U.S. revoked all visas of and barred entry to citizens of South Sudan after a dispute over the deportation of a South Sudanese citizen.[279]
Asia
Middle East
Houthis
In March 2025, the U.S. began a series of airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen to counter attacks on Red Sea shipping, with the goal of restoring freedom of navigation and deterring further aggression.[280] U.S. officials accidentally included The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg in a Signal group chat discussing the military plans, sparking a political scandal and accusations of risking national security and violating records-preservation laws.[281][282][283]
In May 2025, Trump announced that his administration had reached a ceasefire deal with the Houthis.[284]
Iran
Trump reinstated his "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran and sought a new set of negotiations to limit Iran's nuclear program.[285][286] In March 2025, Trump sent a letter to Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei urging new negotiations and warning of military action if talks fail.[287][288][289]
On June 13, 2025, Israeli planes bombed sites in Iran associated with Iran's nuclear program. President Trump stated he was not involved, although Iranian leaders have said they do not believe this. There have been reports that Trump vetoed a plan to kill Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei, and that the United States communicated to Israel that Iran has not killed an American and discussions of killing political leaders should not be on the table.[290]
In retaliation, Iran has fired missiles and drones at Israel, most of which has been shot down by Israel's Iron Dome air defense system.[291] As of June 15, 24 people have been killed in Israel[292] and 224 people have been killed in Iran,[293] according to state media.
On June 18, Trump said he had not decided whether to join with Israeli bombing runs on nuclear program sites in Iran. Trump said that it is “very late to be talking.” An Iranian foreign ministry spokesman told Al Jazeera news that he did not believe the Trump administration could dictate to Israel what it can and cannot do.[294]
Regarding whether the United States will strike with B-2 planes carrying “bunker-buster” bombs directed against Iran's Fordo nuclear site (which is buried in a mountain), President Trump said, “Based on the fact that there is a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks.”[295]
On June 21, 2025, the U.S. attacked three nuclear sites: the Fordow uranium enrichment facility, the Natanz nuclear facility, and Isfahan nuclear technology center.[296][297] B-2 airplanes took off from the state of Missouri and made the 18-hour flight to Iran, being refueled multiple times en route. Entering Iranian airspace, fighter jets cleared space ahead of them, and a Navy sub fired more than 24 Tomahawk missiles. The leading B-2 dropped two Massive Ordnance Penetrators bombs (MOPs, or “bunker-busters”) at the Fordo site. A total of 14 MOPs were dropped at two target sites. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said, “We devastated the Iranian nuclear program, but it's worth noting that the operation did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people.”[298]
On June 22, Trump said that since the Islamic regime in control of Iran has failed to make Iran great, it should be replaced to "Make Iran Great Again".[299][300] Later he posted on social media that their constant anger, hostility, and despair have only led them to ruin. The path they’re on offers no hope, only more hardship, " I wish the leadership of Iran would realize that you often get more with honey than you do with vinegar".[301]
On August 22, 2025, the Trump administration fired director of Defense Intelligence Agency Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse. This reportedly was done because General Kruse had made a preliminary assessment that Iran had moved some of their uranium stockpile and that the bombing had only set Iran back a matter of mere months, whereas President Trump had said in a speech to the nation that Iran’s program had been set back “basically decades.” Senator Mark Warner (Democrat - Virginia), who is Vice-Chair of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, said, “The firing of yet another senior national security official underscores the Trump administration's dangerous habit of treating intelligence as a loyalty test rather than a safeguard for our country.”[109]
Israel and Gaza
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After being elected in November 2024, Trump said he wished to end the Gaza war,[302][303] telling Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end Israel's invasion within two months[302] and warning Hamas that they would have "all hell to pay" if they did not agree to a ceasefire and release all hostages by Trump's inauguration.[304] Trump's incoming administration joined the Biden administration in pressuring negotiations,[305][306][307] and Israel and Hamas agreed to a phased ceasefire on January 15, 2025.[308][309] In February 2025, Trump proposed an American takeover of Gaza in which the territory's Palestinian population would be relocated to allow for its redevelopment, which was criticized by Egypt and Jordan.[310][311] The ceasefire lasted until March 18, when Israel launched attacks on Gaza.[312] Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff blamed Hamas for renewed fighting in Gaza.[313]
On May 16, while in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Trump said, "We’re looking at Gaza. And we’re going to get that taken care of. A lot of people are starving." This is an area of tension between President Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel claims that Hamas systemically raids food aid in order to support its operations, and Israel has put forward a plan of food distributed through a system of hubs run by private contractors and protected by Israeli soldiers. The U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has been set up to carry out this plan and announced it would be ready to begin operations by the end of May.[314][315]
On July 28, while in Scotland, President Trump said he believed there was starvation occurring in Gaza. He further added, "Nobody's done anything great over there. The whole place is a mess... I told Israel maybe they have to do it a different way." Israeli Prime Minister said, "And what has interdicted the supply of humanitarian aid is one force, Hamas. Again, the reversal of truth."[316][317]
Asked about an Israeli double-strike on a hospital on August 25, 2025, Trump said he was "not happy about it," adding, "We have to end this whole nightmare."[318]
On September 29, 2025, President Trump announced, alongside Prime Minister Netanyahu, a 20-Point Gaza Peace Plan from the White House which consisted of 20 specific points aimed at achieving a ceasefire, the return of Israeli hostages, dismantling Hamas's military capabilities, and establishing a transitional governance structure in the Gaza Strip.[319]
Syria
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During the 2024 Syrian opposition offensives that toppled the Assad regime in Syria, Trump said that the U.S. should stay out of the conflict.[320] In March 2025, Rubio condemned the massacres of Syrian Alawites.[321] Trump agreed to lift sanctions on Syria after discussing the situation with Mohammed bin Salman and Erdoğan.[322][323]
Indian subcontinent
India rejected Trump's offer to mediate India–China tensions.[324] On February 13, 2025, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi became the fourth world leader to visit Donald Trump at the White House.[325]
In early 2025, deportations to Bhutan of Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugees who had been settled in the US for nearly two decades resulted in statelessness of the deportees following their interrogation and expulsion from Bhutan upon arrival. Some of the refouled refugees, who had encountered largely minor legal issues in the US, were then arrested for illegal entry to Nepal upon seeking to re-enter the refugee camps they had previously inhabited before US resettlement.[326][327]
In response to the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict, Vice President Vance said that, a potential war between India and Pakistan is "none of our business."[328] Trump claimed to have negotiated a ceasefire, a claim that Pakistan corroborated and India denied.[329][330][331]
In July 2025, Trump criticized India over its continued oil trade with Russia, despite ongoing Western sanctions.[332] On July 30, 2025, Trump announced that Indian products would be subject to 25% reciprocal tariffs upon arrival in the United States starting August 1, and that a "penalty" would be added for the purchase of Russian oil.[333] On August 6, 2025, Trump raised the tariff to 50%, a 25% increase, over India's purchase of Russian oil.[334]
In July 2025, Trump's administration reached a trade agreement with Pakistan, in which Trump announced that the United States would help Pakistan develop its large and untapped oil reserves.[335] The agreement also reduced American reciprocal tariffs on Pakistan to 19%, the lowest of any country in South Asia.[335]
Caucasus
On August 8, 2025, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a peace agreement in a ceremony hosted by President Donald Trump in the White House,[336] ending the more than 35-year conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.[337]
Southeast Asia
In 2025, Trump attempted to negotiate a ceasefire in the border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand.[338][339]
China
In February 2025, Trump signed an executive order that directed the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to restrict Chinese investment in strategic economic areas.[340]
Trump blamed China for the opioid crisis in the United States.[341] He said the tariffs are intended to pressure China to do more to stop the flow of fentanyl into the US.[342] Opioids, predominantly fentanyl, have killed over 500,000 Americans since 2012.[343]
In September 2025, Trump asked the EU to impose 100% tariffs on China to punish it for buying Russian oil and de facto financing Russia's invasion of Ukraine.[344][345]
Foreign aid
Freezing most programs for 90 days
DOGE dismantled most of USAID,[346] which had been a 10,000-person agency originally tasked to carry-out humanitarian projects.[347] USAID's critics maintained that many of the projects were in fact not all that humanitarian and/or much of the money was not well spent.[348]
In January 2025, the administration issued a 90-day stop-work order worldwide,[349][350] Stop work interrupted about 30 clinical trials,[351] and interrupted projects such as emergency medical care for displaced Palestinians and Yemenis, aid for war refugees on the Sudan-Chad border, and heat and electricity for Ukrainian refugees.[350] The HIV Modeling Consortium estimated the death toll from HIV in sub-Saharan Africa at 14,872 adults and 1,582 children in the one month after Trump's January 2025 funding freeze.[352][353] A key controversy is whether or not waivers are being made and money actually starting to flow again for the most essential programs.[350] For example, the Associated Press reported on February 19, that waivers for PEPFAR, the program that has saved 26 million lives from AIDS, were not in force, despite a federal judge having lifted the funding freeze.[354]
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In early February 2025, it was reported that the USAID director of security and a deputy were put on administrative leave after they "blocked efforts by DOGE members to physically access restricted areas" in order to obtain sensitive information. The DOGE members eventually gained access to the information, which reportedly included email as well as classified information for which they did not have security clearance. And they obtained the ability to lock USAID staff out. Musk had earlier tweeted "USAID is a criminal organization" and that it is "Time for it to die."[355] USAID staff were instructed to keep away from USAID headquarters while hundreds of USAID staff lost access to USAID computer systems.[346]
There have been reports that China has offered to take over development projects if the United States permanently leaves.[356][357][358]
During a February 6 press conference, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, "If it's providing food or medicine or anything that is saving lives and is immediate and urgent, you're not included in the freeze."[359] However, a February 8 CNN article reported that many waivers were not being acted upon because of staff placed on leave, plus payment systems had been taken over.[359] In an interview before the February 9 Super Bowl, Trump said, "Let him take care of the few good ones", referring to Rubio.[360] Rubio's waivers were not in effect.[361]
On February 13, federal judge Amir Ali ordered the Trump administration to continue contracts and grants which were in effect January 19.[362] Chief Justice John Roberts, overseeing cases for the District of Columbia, paused this order.[363][364] On March 5, the Supreme Court ruled 5–4 that the Trump administration must comply with Judge Ali's order.[365][366] However, the Supreme Court stated that Judge Ali must clarify the payment obligations with "due regard for the feasibility of any compliance timelines".[365] On March 10, Judge Ali ruled that the Trump administration must pay for completed projects at the rate of 300 back payments a day, meaning four days for all 1,200 back payments, and this being for projects completed by February 13.[367][368] A March 11 ABC News article reported that, until recently, no payments were being made because DOGE had disabled the payment system.[368]
Keeping 17% of programs
On March 10, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that he was cancelling 83% of USAID programs, or approximately 5,200 out of 6,200 programs. The remaining 1,000 programs (approximately) would be moved to the Department of State.[369][370] As of late March, DOGE no longer lists the details of canceled USAID contracts on its "Wall of Receipts."[371]
DOGE lists approximately $12 billion saved, although a former USAID analyst estimates the actual amount is closer to $6 or $7 billion.[371]
President Trump stated the United States would help in response to the March 28 earthquake in Myanmar, although the question was asked by a former USAID executive of whether or not the United States will beat other countries in getting there with a relief team(s).[372] In early April, USAID announced it was adding back 14 nations to grants under the UN's World Food Programme. These nations include Lebanon, Syria, Somalia, Jordan, Iraq and Ecuador, plus the International Organization for Migration in the Pacific region.[373] However, food aid was not restored to either Yemen or Afghanistan, with a State Department spokesperson saying this was "based on concern that the funding was benefiting terrorist groups, including the Houthis and the Taliban".[374]
July 2025 rescissions (“claw backs”), but not for PEPFAR
In June 2025, the White House requested that Congress pass a package of rescissions, or “claw backs”, of approximately $8 billion in foreign aid and $1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting including NPR and PBS.[375]
The House of Representatives passed the cuts as requested. The Senate excluded the PEPFAR cuts, which is the program started in 2003 during the presidency of George W Bush to help provide HIV medicines to lower-income countries. The Senate passed two preliminary votes in close 51-50 fashion with Vice-President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking votes. A rescission is one of the exceptions to the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster rule.[375]
President Trump focused on the public broadcasting aspect, criticizing CNN and also “MSDNC” which is a portmanteau (“smash up”) of MSNBC and DNC (Democratic National Committee). In a social media post, he wrote, “Any Republican that votes to allow this monstrosity to continue broadcasting will not have my support or Endorsement.”[376]
In a late night session at 2:00 AM on July 17, the Senate voted 51-48 in favor of the cuts. Later that same day, the House of Representatives voted 216 - 213 for the Senate version, meaning PEPFAR was protected in the amount of $400 million.[376] Regarding the cuts to public broadcasting, service to rural areas became one of the political issues.[377]
Refugees
On January 20, 2025, Trump signed the Executive Order "Securing Our Borders". Due to this order The Uniting for Ukraine parole program is suspended and no new applications from Ukrainian refugees with relatives in the United States are being accepted.[378][379]
On May 12, 59 white South African refugees arrived from South Africa. The Trump administration has been criticized for fast-tracking their applications while pausing other refugee programs.[380]
The Trump administration slowed the entry of Afghan refugees into the U.S, including persons who had fought on the U.S. side against the Taliban. A leader of an American veterans group said, “these pilots risked everything for America. Their lives are now on the line because of our failure to follow through on our promises.”[381]
On May 12, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Noem announced that TPS, or Temporary Protected Status, for Afghan refugees would be ended in 60 days, which is the shortest time period permitted by United States law. This decision cited improved conditions in Afghanistan.[382]
The Hill reports that the UN High Commissioner for Refugees has stated that the situation in Afghanistan has not improved, with a report stating “The large-scale returns are putting even greater pressure on already stretched humanitarian resources.” On the other hand, Secretary Noem has pointed to an increase in tourists from China and a drop in the number of Afghans needing assistance from 29 million to 24 million. [382]
Fox News reported that the leader of “Afghans for Trump,” which formed in the aftermath of President Biden's chaotic 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, claimed that conditions have not significantly improved and urged President Trump to reconsider.[383]
Trade and tariffs
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Trump has been a strong proponent of tariffs both during his campaign and as President.[384][385] Throughout the first 100 days of his presidency, he implemented tariffs on multiple different countries, though mainly China, Mexico, and Canada, leading to retaliation.[386] On April 2, 2025, a day Trump nicknamed "Liberation Day," he announced a 10% universal import duty on all goods brought into the US (even higher for some trade partners), before ordering a 90-day pause shortly after drops in the market.[387][388] The Trump administration promised it would achieve 90 trade deals during this period, though only managed to achieve two by the end of the deadline, July 9, as well as ongoing negotiations with China, extending the window until August 1.[389] Trump has since then threatened to raise tariffs on multiple countries, including Japan and South Korea.[390]
Donald Trump's four-day visit to the Middle East focused primarily on securing business deals and investments in the United States.[391][392][393][394]
Supreme Court to hear tariff case in November
On August 29, 2025, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled 7-4 that many of the Trump tariffs were invalid. The Supreme Court will consider the case on November 5, and the Appeals Court decision is paused until the Supreme Court issues its decision.[395][396]
The Appeals Court had ruled that the IEEPA, or International Emergency Economic Powers Act from 1977, did not grant the broad powers the Trump administration was claiming, such as the 10% baseline tariffs plus reciprocal tariffs from President Trump’s “Liberation Day” in April. This decision didn’t affect some specific tariffs, such as steel or aluminum which were increased under other presidential authority.[395]
China
On May 12, the United States and China announced that tariffs would be reduced for a period of 90 days. U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods would be reduced from 145% to 30% and Chinese tariffs on U.S. goods would be reduced from 125% to 10%.[397][398] However, this 30% is still more expensive for consumers in the United States compared to the state of affairs before Trump's initial tariffs.[399]
On August 11, 2025, this deal was extended for another 90 days.[400]
EU
On July 27, 2025, the United States and the European Union concluded a trade agreement, providing for 15% tariffs on European exports. The deal was announced by Trump and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at Turnberry, Scotland.[401][402] European states committed to $750 billion in energy purchases and $600 billion in additional investments in the United States.[403]
Expansionism and revanchism
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In the lead-up to his second inauguration, Trump proposed plans and ideas that would expand the United States' political influence and territory.[404] It has been characterized as a revival of the Monroe Doctrine.[405] The last territory acquired by the United States was in 1947 when the Mariana, Caroline, and Marshall Islands were acquired.
Canada
The Trump administration has imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian goods imports that do not fall under Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement, with exceptions for steel, aluminum, and Canadian-made passenger vehicle content.[406] Canadian officials responded with retaliatory 25% tariffs,[407][408] and have even proposed cutting off the supply of Canadian energy into the Northern United States.[409] Manitoba has diverted energy to Canada that it previously supplied to the USA.[410] Peter Navarro, a trade envoy and high-ranking Trump official, has suggested expelling Canada from the Five Eyes intelligence alliance to increase pressure in the trade war.[411]
Trump has repeatedly stated his desire for the United States to annex Canada and calling for it to become the 51st state,[412] calling former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau "Governor of the Great State of Canada".[413] Trudeau stated to business leaders in Canada that he believes the annexation threats are a "real thing."[414] The strained relations have led to a "Buy Canadian" movement to boycott American goods and services,[415] and booing the American national anthem during international hockey games.[416] When tariffs were implemented on March 4, Trudeau stated that Trump's goal in the trade war was to weaken Canada in order to annex it.[417]
Greenland
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In December 2024, Trump stated a further proposal for the United States to purchase Greenland from Denmark, describing ownership and control of the island as "an absolute necessity" for national security purposes. This builds upon a prior offer from Trump to buy Greenland during his first term, which the Danish Realm refused, causing him to cancel his August 2019 visit to Denmark.[418][better source needed] On January 7, 2025, Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. visited Greenland's capital city Nuuk alongside Charlie Kirk to hand out MAGA hats.[419] At a press conference the following day, Trump refused to rule out military or economic force to take over Greenland or the Panama Canal.[420] However, he did rule out military force in taking over Canada.[420] On January 14, the Trump-affiliated Nelk Boys also visited Nuuk, handing out dollar bills to locals.[421] On January 16, the CEOs of major Danish companies Novo Nordisk, Vestas and Carlsberg among others were assembled for a crisis meeting in the Ministry of State to discuss the situation.[422][423] On the subsequent day, former chief executive Friis Arne Petersen in the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the situation as "historically unheard of", while Noa Redington, special adviser to former prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, compared the international pressure on Denmark that during the 2005 Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy.[424] On February 12, 2025, a bill was introduced in Congress to advance efforts to acquire Greenland and rename it Red, White, and Blueland.[425]
Panama Canal
In 2024, Trump demanded that Panama return control of the Panama Canal to the United States due to 'excessive rates' being charged for American passage.[426] The United States previously was in control of the Panama Canal Zone from 1903 until 1999, and has invaded Panama before in 1989.[427][428] Trump told Congress in March 2025 that his administration "will be reclaiming the Panama Canal".[429] Also that month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth instructed the Trump administration to "immediately" present "credible military options to ensure fair and unfettered US military and commercial access to the Panama Canal".[430]
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Ethics
Summarize
Perspective
Trump's second presidency was described by political commentators as having fewer prohibitions on business activity and guardrails against potential conflicts of interest than his first, and for having more opportunities to directly influence Trump.[431][432] Trump repealed and rolled back anti-corruption measures and ethical standards for himself and his allies, dropped corruption charges against political figures with ties to him, and fired inspectors generals investigating fraud and abuse. The New York Times described Trump as making up statistics "out of thin air", and for accusing government agencies and "anyone he disfavors of corruption and even criminality without proof".[433] His second presidency was described as breaking with decades of ethical norms,[434] and raising substantial corruption concerns.[435][436] Congressional Republicans largely downplayed or ignored the concerns.[437][434]
Federal judges found many of the administration's actions to be illegal and unconstitutional,[8][9][10] and by mid-July, a Washington Post analysis found he defied judges and the courts in roughly one third of all cases against him, actions which were described by legal experts as unprecedented for any presidential administration.[11] His defiance of court orders and a claimed right to disobey the courts raised fears among legal experts of a constitutional crisis.[438] By August 2025, several grant terminations and spending freezes were found by judges and the Government Accountability Office as being illegal and unconstitutional.[439][440][441]
"Pay-for-Access" and MAGA INC
Trump maintained what The New York Times described as a "Pay-for-Access" operation, with millions being raised for his pro-Trump PAC, MAGA Inc, which had collected $177 million dollars in the first half of 2025, twice as much than was raised by the Republican National Committee and unusually large for term-limited presidents. Millions were raised from individuals, lobbyists, corporations, and donors to it and other Trump-friendly outlets. Those that gave were granted access to the president and shortly afterward several received presidential pardons, favorable regulatory and policy actions, or appointments for government positions.[442]
Examples of criticism included but were not limited to the Trump administration lifting a ban on Central Romana Corporation shipping sugar to the United States following allegations of forced labor at the company. According to OpenSecrets, Fanjul Corp which owns Central Romana had given $1 million to MAGA Inc.[443][444] Another action criticized was the pardon of Paul Walczak following his mothers attendance at a $1 million per personal fund raising "candlelight dinner" sponsored by MAGA Inc. Walczak was alleged by prosecutors to have withheld over $10 million from paychecks of staff at a nursing home for trust fund taxes instead using the money to buy a $2 million yacht among other expenses. Walczak was supposed to pay $4.3 million in restitution prior to his pardon.[445][446] The Trump administration was also criticized for delaying a rule change which would restrict coverage of skin substitutes under Medicare after Extremity Care "a leading seller of skin substitutes" gave $5 million to MAGA Inc.[447][448]
Government targeting of political opponents and civil society
Over decades, right wing ideologically motivated homicides have substantially outnumbered those perpetrated by left wing perpetrators in the US.[452] Also, far-right motivated homicides have occurred much more frequently than jihadi violence inspired by Islamic extremism(not shown in chart).[452]
During Donald Trump's second presidency, the Trump administration took a series of actions using the government to target his political opponents and civil society. His actions were described by the media as part of his promised "retribution" and "revenge" campaign, within the context of a strongly personalist and leader-centered conception of politics.[453][454][455][456] During his 2024 presidential campaign, he repeatedly stated that he had "every right" to go after his political opponents.[457]
He undertook a massive expansion of presidential power under a maximalist interpretation of the unitary executive theory,[458] and several of his actions ignored or violated federal laws, regulations, and the Constitution, according to American legal scholars.[459][460][461] He threatened, signed executive actions, and ordered investigations into his political opponents, critics, and organizations aligned with the Democratic Party.[462] He politicized the civil service,[458] undertaking mass layoffs of government employees to recruit workers more loyal to himself.[463] He ended the post-Watergate norm of Justice Department independence, weaponizing it and ordering it to target his political enemies.[464] He utilized several government agencies to retaliate against his political enemies and continued filing personal lawsuits against his political opponents, companies, and news organizations that angered him.[455][465]
By July 2025, Trump had extracted more than $1.2 billion in settlements in a "cultural crackdown" against a variety of institutions that largely chose to settle rather than fight back.[466] He engaged in an unprecedented targeting of law firms and lawyers that previously represented positions adverse to himself.[467][468] He targeted higher education by demanding it give federal oversight of curriculum and targeted activists, legal immigrants, tourists, and students with visas who expressed criticism of his policies or engaged in pro-Palestinian advocacy.[469] He detained and deported United States citizens.[470]
Trump's actions against civil society have been described by legal experts and political scientists as authoritarian and contributing to democratic backsliding,[471][472][473] and negatively impacting free speech and the rule of law.[464][474][475][476]On August 29, 2025, President Trump announced that effective September 1, Vice-President Kamala Harris would no longer receive Secret Service protection, which also had included continual monitoring of intelligence information.[477] She had been Trump’s opponent in the 2024 election.[478] Reportedly, a recent threat assessment had found nothing alarming, and this decision was made several weeks before Harris’ book tour for 107 Days about her campaign.[479] Former vice-presidents typically receive such protection for 6 months. However, President Biden had signed an executive order extending this for an additional year for Harris. In March, Trump had cancelled the protection of Alejandro Mayorkas, Ashley and Hunter Biden, John Bolton, Mike Pompeo.[478][479]
On September 12, comedian Jimmy Kimmel, on his ABC late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live!, blamed Trump for not uniting the country after the assassination of Charlie Kirk and instead attacking Democrats.[480] On the September 15 episode, Kimmel said the "MAGA gang" was "desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them" and was trying to "score political points" from the crime rather than sincerely grieving. FCC chief Brendan Carr said Kimmel appeared to "directly mislead the American public" and threatened possible actions against ABC, including the revocation of the broadcast licenses of its owned-and-operated stations.[481][482] On September 17, Nexstar Media Group announced that they would pre-empt Kimmel on their 32 ABC affiliated stations "for the foreseeable future".[483] Nexstar had been seeking FCC approval for $6.2 billion merger at the time.[482] ABC then announced that it would suspend the show indefinitely.[481][484] Variety described the suspension coming after "several prominent conservatives have called for any critic of [Kirk's] work to be silenced, no matter how nuanced the argument may be".[485][486] Following the suspension, Trump stated that any network that gave him bad press or allowed a host to criticize him should have their broadcast licenses revoked.[487][488] The following day, Trump restated that negative coverage of him should be illegal, stating that "When 97 percent of the stories are bad about a person, it's no longer free speech".[489] He later reiterated his message, saying that "They'll take a great story and they'll make it bad. See, I think that's really illegal".[490]
Conflicts of interest
Trump's second presidency included multiple potential conflicts of interest that did not exist during his first term in office, including a publicly traded company in Truth Social, a cryptocurrency venture, new overseas real estate deals involving state-affiliated entities, and several branding and licensing deals selling Trump-branded merchandise.[431] His 2024 campaign was noted for an "unprecedented" mixing of personal business and political fundraising.[491] Trump promoted $59.99 bibles, $399 sneakers, $99 "Victory47" cologne, and $99 Trump-branded NFT digital trading cards for his personal, non-campaign accounts.[492][493] Trump's campaign was noted for spending large sums of campaign money at Trump-owned businesses, in particular his Mar-a-Lago resort and the Trump National Doral Miami.[494]
After winning the election, Trump mirrored his first term's ethics commitments and did not divest from his interests in branding and real estate. He also did not place his assets in a trust managed by an independent trustee.[495] Trump did not adopt his own formal ethics guidelines.[496] Trump transferred his shares of Truth Social into a trust in which he is the sole beneficiary, of which his oldest son is the trustee. Ethics experts described it as falling "well short of the blind trusts and divestitures from private business interests that other presidents have used to avoid ethical conflicts with their job". Trump's son, Eric Trump, said the Trump Organization would continue to pursue business deals overseas, dropping a self-imposed prohibition during Trump's first presidency.[432] Trump profited from holding events at his hotels and golf courses.[495][497] Trump's conflicts of interest were described as having national-security risks, with particular emphasis placed on relationships with the Saudi and Dubai governments through the Trump Organization and his son-in-law Jared Kushner's investment fund backed by the Saudis.[498] Trump noted that conflict of interest laws did not apply to him and that he was protected by broad immunity for his official actions as president.[499]
As part of the Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions, Trump repealed Ethic Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel which prohibited executive branch employees accepting major gifts from lobbyists and two year bans on lobbyists seeking executive jobs and vice versa. Critics described the repeal as the opposite of his pledge to "drain the swamp".[501] Trump also signed Executive Order 14209 to stop the Justice Department prosecuting Americans accused of bribing foreign government officials under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.[502] Trump's wife, Melania, entered into a deal with Amazon to create a documentary about herself, which raised ethics concerns as it was made while she was still in office.[495] In March 2025, Trump praised Tesla's cars on the White House lawn with notes about the cars' features alongside Elon Musk in "something of a sales pitch" which was described in The Nation as "brazenly corrupt".[500][503] Countries facing tariffs were pushed by the State Department to approve Musk's Starlink satellite service.[504]
On April 9, 2025, Trump's encouragement of investors to buy stocks hours before pausing tariffs that sent markets soaring was scrutinized by Democrats and government ethics experts as possible market manipulation.[505] Representative Adam Schiff called on Congress to investigate whether in pausing tariffs, Trump had engaged in insider trading or market manipulation.[506] His use of tariff exemptions also raised concerns of corruption, with claims of insider trading and special exemptions being given to friends and to punish rivals.[507][508]
In May 2025, Trump's intention to accept a $400 million luxury jet from Qatar to serve first as Air Force One and later be transferred to his presidential library elicited rare, bipartisan criticism, with his supporters deriding it as a "bribe", "grift" and "corruption".[509] The Guardian criticized it as an example of a quid pro quo.[510] The Boston Globe described the deal as an example of an increasingly transactional presidency, describing it as more direct than during his first term and showing that he was "willing to bend for anyone who gives him what he craves: praise, prestige, and a cut of the profits".[511]
By August 12, the United States Office of Government Ethics reported that Trump had made 690 stock transactions since taking office, including purchasing at least $100 million in bonds from local authorities, gas districts, and major American corporations. CNBC reported that federal law exempted the president and vice president from some conflict of interest regulations.[512]
Trump's cabinet were noted to have a large number of potential conflicts of interest, with the Campaign Legal Center finding over 467 that would require recusal, with the most, 106, belonging to Howard Lutnick.[496] Trump Media gifted 25,946 shares of stock of DJT to each of his picks for FBI director, Kash Patel, and education secretary nominee, Linda McMahon, totaling $779,400 each as of January 31, 2025. Both members served as directors for his company, and they later said they would not accept the award. He also gifted thousands of shares to his son.[513]
Trump will host the 2026 G20 summit at Trump National Doral Miami a resort owned by The Trump Organization.[514]
Cryptocurrency ventures
Trump and his family involvement in the cryptocurrency industry have given rise to ethical and legal concerns.[515]
On January 17, 2025, Trump launched, promoted, and personally benefited[501] from a cryptocurrency memecoin, $Trump, that soared to a market valuation of over $5 billion within a few hours—a total $27 billion diluted value—through a Trump-owned company called CIC Digital LLC, which owned 80 percent of the coin's supply.[516] Within two days, the $Trump coin became the 19th most valuable form of cryptocurrency in the world, with a total trading value of nearly $13 billion, and a total of $29 billion worth of trades based on a $64 value of each of the 200 million tokens issued by the afternoon of January 19. The New York Times reported that Trump affiliates controlled an additional 800 million tokens that, hypothetically, could be worth over $51 billion, potentially making Trump one of the richest people in the world. Trump also launched a new meme coin named after his wife, $Melania, and promoted it on Truth Social shortly before attending an inauguration rally. The crypto venture was criticized by ethics experts and government watchdogs.[517] The venture and the possibility of foreign governments buying the coin was highlighted as possibly violating the Constitution's foreign emoluments clause.[518] He promoted exclusive access to him for the largest holders of $Trump, including hosting a dinner, which according to The New York Times, certain buyers in interviews and statements said they "bought the coins or entered the dinner contest with the intention of securing an action by Mr. Trump to affect United States policy".[519]
He directly benefited from his cryptocurrency company World Liberty Financial which engaged in an unprecedented mixing of private enterprise and government policy. It directly solicited access to Trump with secret payments and currency swaps from foreign investors, companies, and individuals with criminal records and investigations. At least one investigation was dropped after payment worth several million was made to the firm, and Trump granted an official pardon to an investor of a company World Liberty had invested in. Trump's family received a cut of all transactions made through the World Liberty, and the company directly advertised its connections to Trump, who disclosed income of nearly US$60 million in an ethics filing.[520][521] Several actions taken by Trump's administration regarding cryptocurrency were noted to bolster the company's assets and position. A spokeswoman for Trump stated that since his assets were in a trust managed by his children, there were "no conflicts of interest".[499] On May 12, 2025, another family bitcoin company co-founded by Eric Trump in March, American Bitcoin, announced plans to go public by merging with an existing Nasdaq company.[522]
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Elections during the second Trump presidency
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Relations with federal courts
National Guard and Posse Comitatus
In early September 2025, a District Judge ruled that President Trump’s deploying soldiers in Los Angeles earlier in the Summer had violated the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 because soldiers had been asked to engage in ordinary law enforcement without one of the exceptions such as Congressional approval.[523]
This decision only applies to California and does not go into effect until September 12.[523]
On September 8, 2025, the United States Supreme Court lifted the hold (restraining order) from a different case without ruling on the merits. This allows ICE raids to continue in Los Angeles past September 12.[524]
Internal Republican politics
Summarize
Perspective
MAGA fallout over non-release of Jeffrey Epstein files
MAGA stands for “Make America Great Again” and is a slogan of Trump supporters. In early July, ABC News reported that many of Trump supporters were angry at the Justice Department and FBI’s memo which concluded that convicted abuser Jeffrey Epstein kept no “client list.” ABC News stated, “Some of Trump's most die-hard supporters have spent the past day blasting FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino, both one-time MAGA-world darlings themselves, over the Epstein memo. However, the harshest backlash seems to be focused on Attorney General Pam Bondi, with many pro-Trump voices criticizing her over her mixed messaging regarding the Epstein files and multiple supporters calling for her to resign.”[525]
At a White House press conference on July 7, 2025, President Trump asked a reporter, “Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein?”[525]
On July 7, 2025, the FBI issued a two-page statement saying they had concluded that Epstein did not possess a "client list," even though Attorney General Pam Bondi had hinted in February that such a document was on her desk. Several right-wing media personalities were highly critical of the decision. And per mainstream sources, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino is considering resigning and had been feuding with Bondi. One of the reasons given for the non-release is the privacy of the victims. On July 12, President Trump defended Bondi and posted, “They're all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! We're on one Team, MAGA, and I don't like what's happening.”[526]
On September 3, 2025, at large outside press conference on the Capitol steps, legislators were joined by nearly a dozen women who state they had been abused by convicted offender Epstein. Representatives Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican and Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican and close ally of Trump, urged the House of Representatives to vote to release the full files. The petition needs the support of two more Republicans to mandate a vote in the House. House Republican leaders offered an alternative vote to continue investigation by the House Oversight Committee. Also on September 3, President Trump spoke to reporters from the Oval Office, and said that the call for release of files is a “Democrat hoax that never ends.”[527][528] And in fact, CNN states that Democrats have “sought to weaponize the Epstein issue against Trump and the GOP in recent weeks, trying to force votes that would put vulnerable Republicans in difficult positions. But the tone of Wednesday’s press conference was far less partisan.”[528]
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Historical evaluations and public opinion
Summarize
Perspective
Evaluations
Professor Christina Pagel mapped the first actions of the Trump administration in a Venn diagram that identifies "five broad domains that correspond to features of proto-authoritarian states". These five domains are: undermining democratic institutions and the rule of law, dismantling federal government; dismantling social protections and rights, enrichment and corruption; suppressing dissent and controlling information; attacking science, environment, health, arts and education, particularly universities; aggressive foreign policy and global destabilization.[531]
Journalist Martin Sandu and authoritarian politics researcher Alex Norris described the maximalist interpretation of executive power in Trump's second term as president, including sweeping executive orders, the federal funding freeze, actions against political opponents and the media, pardons of those involved in the 2021 attempted self-coup, the actions of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, and the like as an attempted self-coup.[532][533] Political scientist Lee Morgenbesser argued the actions of DOGE are a form of state capture.[534]
Public opinion
Donald Trump began his second term with another historically low job approval rating, only improving on his lowest-ever rating (occurring in his first term) by three percentage points.[536] President Trump began his first term at 45% job approval, and his second with 47%. According to Gallup, "Trump remains the only elected president with sub-50% initial approval ratings".[536] In a CBS News/YouGov poll conducted from February 5–7, 2025, Trump reached a career high poll rating of 53%.[537] According to ABC News, Trump's approval rating at the end of his first 100 days in office was 39%, even lower than his already low 42% approval rating at the end of his first 100 days of his first presidency and the worst of any president's approval ratings after their 100 days in 80 years.[538] By July 2025, Gallup found Trump's approval rating reached the lowest for his second term at 37%, largely driven by declining support from independents,[539] and in August, multiple surveys revealed record or near-record low job approval ratings, which Gallup found to be lower than any modern president.[540]
Immigration enforcement and protests against ICE
In early June 2025 in response to street protests against ICE actions, President Trump activated and sent 2,100 members of the California National Guard to the Los Angeles area.[541] Reuters reported that the protests were the strongest domestic backlash to Trump since he took office in January,[542] and became a focal point in a national debate over immigration, protest, the use of federal force in domestic affairs, the boundaries of presidential power, and freedom of speech and assembly.[543]
June 2025 military parade and "No Kings" protests
On June 14, the Trump administration held the U.S. Army 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, DC, to celebrate the anniversary of the U.S. Army and coinciding with President Trump's 79th birthday.[544] The parade is estimated to have cost somewhere between $25 and $45 million.[544] In protest, 50501, Indivisible, and other organizations[545] organized No Kings protests in many American cities. Millions attended the largest protest since Trump was re-elected.[544][546]
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See also
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- Bibliography of Donald Trump
- Efforts to impeach Donald Trump
- Government attacks on journalists in the United States during Donald Trump's second presidency
- List of federal political scandals in the United States (21st century)
- List of United States presidential vetoes § Donald Trump
- Make America Great Again – American political slogan
- Political positions of Donald Trump
Notes
- The first was Grover Cleveland, following his victory in the 1892 election.
- He was convicted in 2024 for falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments.
- 17 days of the 119th Congress (January 3, 2025 – January 19, 2025) took place under President Biden.
References
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