As we approach the decidedly arbitrary open to the Trump administration, the first 100 days, many individuals and organizations have taken the opportunity to take stock of the New York businessman’s performance in office. Admittedly, I’ve been unable to keep myself from joining them.
The first 100 days of Donald Trump’s administration has been a mixed bag, no matter which side of the aisle you’re on. In my estimation, this isn’t all that surprising, given the mixed bag character of Trump himself.
For example, Trump has done a number of things in the first 100 days that have won approval and praise from conservatives. Probably the crowning achievement of these is the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch (of whom I am a supporter) to the Supreme Court, replacing the late Antonin Scalia. The successful impairment of Judge Merrick Garland, Obama’s nominee, and the subsequent installation of Gorsuch is a major win not only for Trump, but also Congressional Republicans.
Trump can also mark wins in his book in regards to illegal immigration along the southern border, as well as economic policy and deregulation. Trump has called for and begun the implementation of hiring 5,000 more Border Patrol agents and 10,000 more Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. On the economy, Trump has withdrawn the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and twisted the arms of Mexico and Canada to renegotiate NAFTA. And all sorts of Obama-era regulations stifling industrial growth have begun to be rolled back as well.
Conversely, the first 100 days has been marked by plenty of tough times for Donald J. Trump. The crowning jewel in that crown is the failure of Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare, with the House Freedom Caucus (a strongly conservative group of Republicans in the House of Representatives) joining with Democrats in opposing Speaker Ryan’s American Health Care Act. Efforts to appease the House Freedom Caucus and unite Republicans on this issue has garnered opposition from the Tuesday Group, a collection of more moderate Republicans.
Additionally, federal judges (predominantly Obama-era appointees) have blocked many of President Trump’s executive orders banning travel and immigration from six predominantly Muslim Middle Eastern countries, not once, but twice. Attempts by Trump to suspend America’s refugee program have also been met with stiff resistance by the courts.
So what does all of this mean for the big picture? It means that Trump has only made more enemies than friends, and his position in Washington is no more stable now in April than it was when he won the election in November. Only 44% give the President a positive approval in a recent poll, opposed to 54% who disapprove. Those on the right and the left have reasons to dislike Trump and how his administration has performed thus far.
That being said, this is hardly new territory for Donald Trump. He was practically despised by both sides during the campaign. His one saving grace? People despised Hillary Clinton more. During the campaign, Trump was the other side of an equally detestable coin and people had to choose. Now that he stands alone, the gaudiness of his policy and techniques rests in full daylight.
I personally remain ambivalent about the President. I did not support him during the election, but found enough of my own ideals in agreement with him that I have not been overly critical of his time in the White House. Now, as we approach that marker first set down by FDR, I find myself at an impasse. Has Trump’s time in office been successful? Has he done the things I’d hoped he’d do? On some fronts yes, on some fronts no.
The real issue to me lies in the disunity that Congressional Republicans have shown in regards to things that should be bringing them together, not tearing them apart, as well as the obstructionism engaged in by the Democrats, specifically activist judges who are more concerned with personal ideology than the rule of law. No man is an island, especially in Washington, and the blame for this can’t all be hoisted onto President Trump.
In all, the first 100 days have been far from the terrible disaster that many in the media predicted (and hoped) it would be for Trump. On the other side, the 100 days has been far from the glorious triumph that Trump and his allies would’ve liked it to be. What does that mean for the next 100 days? For the next four years? There’s no way to say for certain, but if I were a gambling man, my money would be on more of what we’ve seen: a mixed bag, i.e. some good, some bad, and definitely some ugly.