The first 100 days of President Trump’s second term has moved at a breakneck speed, ushering in dramatic changes to the federal government and turbulent crackdowns on immigration, trade and culture war issues.
Trump kicked off his return to the White House with a blitz of Day-One executive action, and the dizzying pace at which he’s wielded power in the weeks since has delighted allies and stoked critics’ fears about lasting harms. The president hits his 100-day mark amid a troubled economy and problem signs in the polls.
Here’s a walk through some of the standout moments from this Trump term.
Jan. 20: Sworn-in, executive order blitz
Trump was sworn in as the 47th president at the Capitol, a ceremony that was held in the Rotunda to frigid cold weather instead of outdoors where the public could gather on the National Mall.
Within hours, Trump signed multiple executive orders during his inauguration celebration at the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C., targeting some Biden-era orders and implementing a federal government hiring freeze.
He declared an emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, asserted the U.S. would recognize just “two sexes, male and female” and established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to helm his crackdown on the federal workforce, led by Elon Musk.
Later, from the Oval Office, Trump controversially issued roughly 1,500 “full, complete and unconditional pardons” for rioters charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the Capitol.
Jan. 23: First foreign leader call
Trump held his first official second-term foreign leader phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, a controversial figure that the president praised as “a fantastic guy.”
The two leaders talked about security in the Middle East as well as planned investments by Saudi Arabia in the U.S., according to the White House.
Jan. 29: Helicopter crash near Reagan National Airport
An Black Hawk Army helicopter and an American Airlines passenger plane collided near Reagan Washington National Airport just days after the inauguration, killing 67 passengers, crew and service members.
In an early test of how the new administration would respond to an unexpected disaster, Trump lamented the tragedy but swiftly lambasted his presidential predecessors and laid blame on diversity initiatives at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for weakening safety ahead of the collision.
Feb. 3: USAID shutdown in progress
As part of broader efforts to rein in government spending, DOGE moved to gut the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), sending shockwaves throughout the federal workforce and sparking backlash about the administration’s slash-and-burn approach.
Trump had signed an executive order on Day One calling for a pause to reevaluate U.S. foreign aid, and reviews began in January. On Feb. 3, tech billionaire Elon Musk announced that Trump had agreed to shut down the agency responsible for administering foreign aid.
Feb. 4: Netanyahu visit, Gaza takeover
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu became the first international leader to visit the second Trump White House against the backdrop of the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.
During that visit, Trump voiced a shocking controversial proposal that the U.S. should take over the Strip and that surviving Palestinians be taken in by neighboring countries, deeming the coastal enclave unlivable.
Netanyahu would make a second trip to Washington in April, becoming the first world leader to visit Trump after Trump’s global tariffs were implemented.
Feb. 12: Kennedy Center takeover
In another unprecedented move, Trump announced his election as the new chair of Washington, D.C.’s famed Kennedy Center after naming himself to helm the cultural institution.
Trump had announced plans to terminate multiple members from the center’s Board of Trustees, arguing they “do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture.”
“Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP. The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation. For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!” Trump said.
Feb. 14: White House limits AP access over ‘Gulf of America’
Less than a month after inauguration, the White House announced it would limit Associated Press journalists’ access to the Oval Office and Air Force One indefinitely.
White House officials days earlier had barred one of the outlet’s reporters from covering an executive order signing, citing the organization’s decision to refer to the body of water along the southern coast as the “Gulf of Mexico” despite a Trump order renaming it the “Gulf of America.”
A judge would later order key officials to restore the AP’s access, but the Trump administration found workarounds like removing a wire slot from the press pool that covers the president. Since then, the White House has allowed only an AP photographer to be part of the pool that goes to the Oval Office and onto Air Force One.
Feb. 26: First Cabinet meeting, Musk grabs spotlight
When Trump held the first Cabinet meeting of his second term in late February, the focus was largely on Musk, who is not a Cabinet official.
The meeting of top administration figures came amid Musk’s ongoing work to slash the size of the federal government. As he touted changes, the Tesla CEO also acknowledged that the DOGE team had “accidentally” canceled an Ebola prevention program.
It was the first formal gathering of Trump’s newly Senate-confirmed advisers, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Feb. 28: Zelensky Oval Office spat
An Oval Office meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky exploded into an extraordinary moment that rattled the political world against the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing war against Kyiv.
The meeting, which began cordially, devolved when Zelensky pushed back against Vice President Vance’s suggestion that a diplomatic solution could be reached with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war, pointing out that Putin has gone back on previous ceasefires and not kept his word.
Then, when Zelensky suggested that the U.S. did not yet feel the ramifications of the Ukraine war because of geography, Trump raised his voice at the foreign leader.
“You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards,” Trump said. “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people, you’re gambling with World War III.”
Zelensky had been expected to sign off on a deal that would give the U.S. access to Ukraine’s critical mineral supply. But Trump called off talks, arguing Zelensky was “not ready for Peace.” The White House has since inked a memo of intent to sign that deal, and Trump has also expressed frustration with Putin for recent strikes against Kyiv.
March 4: Trump’s joint address to Congress
Trump delivered the first congressional address of his second term in early March, speaking to a joint session for nearly 100 minutes as he touted the lightning pace of changes his administration had made in its first six weeks.
“I return to this chamber tonight to report that America’s momentum is back, our spirit is back, our pride is back, our confidence is back, and the American dream is surging bigger and better than ever before,” Trump said.
The speech was met with heckling and protests from some Democrats, drawing criticism for what appeared as an uncoordinated response. Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) was escorted out by the sergeant-at-arms.
March 15: Trump invokes Alien Enemies Act
As part of his efforts to crack down on immigration, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act, an 18th-century wartime law that allows the federal government to detain or deport non-citizens.
Largely aimed at combating enemy espionage, the law has been used just three times in American history, each during a declared war: during the War of 1812, World War I and World War II.
The invocation was part of Trump’s effort to remove Venezuelan undocumented immigrants believed to be members of the Tren de Aragua gang, a newly designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.
“I proclaim that all Venezuelan citizens 14 years of age or older who are members of TdA [Tren de Aragua], are within the United States, and are not actually naturalized or lawful permanent residents of the United States are liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed as Alien Enemies,” Trump wrote in the proclamation, granting Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem the authority to enforce deportation measures.
March 20: Trump orders dismantling of Education Department
Making good on a campaign promise, Trump signed an executive order aimed at eliminating the Department of Education.
The order recognized that it would take an act of Congress to shut down the department, and Trump said that “The department’s useful functions,” like Pell Grants and Title I funding, “will be preserved, fully preserved.”
But Trump has directed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to work toward the goal of shrinking and shuttering the department, saying “Linda, I hope you do a great job and put yourself out of a job.”
March 24: Signalgate
A bombshell report from The Atlantic roiled Washington in late March, when the outlet’s editor-in-chief revealed he was included, apparently inadvertently, in a Signal group chat of Trump administration officials discussing details of a U.S. plan to bomb targets in Yemen.
National security adviser Mike Waltz reportedly added The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg to the chat, which also included Hegseth, Rubio, Vance, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and other top names.
The report brought senior members of the Trump White House under sharp scrutiny, though Trump shrugged off the reporting and officials insisted the chat did not include classified material.
Weeks later, Hegseth would find himself in more hot water over Signal use, after it was reported that Hegseth shared information about planned Yemen strikes in a private chat that included his wife, his brother and his personal lawyer.
The White House has emphasized that Trump supports Hegseth, one of his most controversial Cabinet nominees, and shut down suggestions that they’re looking for a replacement.
April 2: ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs
Trump heralded his long-touted “Liberation Day” on April 2, announcing reciprocal tariffs on a host of nations as he decried what he called unfair trade practices and pledged to “make America wealthy again.”
All foreign nations would face a baseline 10 percent tariff, Trump declared from the Rose Garden on April 2, and several nations would be hit with steeper figures.
Markets plunged after the announcement, even as Trump pledged that the tariffs would improve the economy.
April 9: 90-day tariff pause
A week after Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs roiled global markets, Trump implemented a 90-day reprieve from the “Liberation Day” tariffs against most trading partners, which brought quick relief to the stock market.
But Trump upped tariffs on China to a staggering total of 145 percent, prompting Beijing to up its own import tax to 125 percent and triggering a standoff between the global superpowers that experts have said isn’t sustainable.
Trump has insisted that China “wants to make a deal” and signaled optimism about striking a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping, while Chinese leaders have criticized the Trump administration’s approach and accused the U.S. of bullying other nations.
April 25: first foreign trip to Pope’s funeral
Trump’s first foreign trip of his second term was expected to be to the Middle East, with stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in May.
But the president was pulled out of the country earlier than expected upon the passing of Pope Francis, and he flew with first lady Melania Trump to Rome for the funeral last week.
Trump during the trip sat down with Zelensky inside St. Peter’s Basilica for a brief meeting. The White House later described it as “a very productive discussion.”
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