President Donald Trump,new president of USA , a businessman and former reality television star, served as the 45th President of the United States from January 2017 to January 2021. Known for his unorthodox political style and “America First” approach, focused on issues like immigration control, economic protectionism, and reshaping international alliances
During first term (2017-2021) as President, Trump pursued an agenda focused on reshaping American domestic policies and international relations. Here’s an in-depth look at his actions across key areas:
1. Economic Policy and Tax Reforms
- Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017): Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law, which reduced corporate tax rates from 35% to 21%, lowered individual income tax rates, and simplified deductions. This reform aimed to stimulate economic growth, encourage investment, and create jobs.
- Trade Policies and Tariffs: Trump adopted a more protectionist stance, targeting trade imbalances and promoting “America First” policies. He imposed tariffs on Chinese goods, leading to a trade war aimed at reducing the U.S. trade deficit with China and protecting American industries.
- USMCA Agreement: Trump renegotiated NAFTA, leading to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This updated agreement aimed to protect American jobs, increase North American labor standards, and create fairer trade conditions.
2. Healthcare Initiatives
- Attempted Repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA): Trump tried to dismantle the ACA, also known as “Obamacare,” to reduce government involvement in healthcare. While Congress didn’t fully repeal it, Trump eliminated the ACA’s individual mandate, which had required Americans to carry health insurance or face penalties.
- Drug Pricing Initiatives: Trump focused on reducing prescription drug prices by promoting competition and increasing transparency in pricing. He aimed to reduce costs through initiatives that encouraged generic drug production and transparency in hospital billing.
3. Immigration Policy and Border Security
- Build the Wall Campaign: Trump made securing the U.S.-Mexico border a priority, pledging to build a border wall to reduce illegal immigration. His administration allocated funding to construct parts of the wall and increased Border Patrol staffing and resources.
- Family Separation Policy and “Zero Tolerance”: In 2018, the administration implemented a “zero-tolerance” policy for illegal border crossings, resulting in family separations that led to public controversy and criticism. Trump later ended this policy in response to backlash.
- Restrictions on Immigration and Refugees: Trump imposed restrictions on immigration, including travel bans on certain Muslim-majority countries, reduced refugee admissions, and introduced the “Remain in Mexico” policy, requiring asylum seekers to wait outside the U.S. while their claims were processed.
4. Foreign Policy and International Relations
- Engagement with North Korea: Trump took an unprecedented approach with North Korea by meeting with its leader, Kim Jong-un, in 2018 and 2019. These meetings sought to denuclearize North Korea, although substantive agreements did not materialize.
- Withdrawal from International Agreements: Trump prioritized American sovereignty and withdrew the U.S. from various international agreements. Notably, he exited the Paris Climate Agreement, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and the Iran Nuclear Deal, aiming to reassess global commitments that he believed disadvantaged the U.S.
- Middle East Policies and the Abraham Accords: Trump shifted the U.S. stance in the Middle East by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moving the U.S. embassy there. His administration also brokered the Abraham Accords, normalizing relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including the UAE and Bahrain.
5. Judiciary and Criminal Justice Reform
- Supreme Court Appointments: Trump appointed three Supreme Court justices—Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett—shifting the Court’s balance towards a conservative majority. These appointments had a significant impact on American law and policy, especially on issues like healthcare, immigration, and reproductive rights.
- Criminal Justice Reform with the First Step Act: Trump signed the First Step Act, a bipartisan criminal justice reform law that aimed to reduce sentences for certain nonviolent crimes and improve prison conditions. This law sought to address issues of prison overcrowding and promote rehabilitation over punitive measures.
6. Environmental Policies and Energy
Deregulation of Environmental Policies:
Trump rolled back various environmental regulations, arguing that they hindered economic growth and job creation. The administration eased restrictions on emissions, lifted limits on drilling, and rolled back clean water protections.
- Energy Independence and Fossil Fuel Production: Trump’s energy policy focused on achieving U.S. energy independence. He promoted the expansion of oil, natural gas, and coal production, including the approval of projects like the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines.
7. COVID-19 Response
- Initial Response and Travel Bans: Trump faced the COVID-19 pandemic during his last year in office. He implemented travel bans on China and parts of Europe early in the outbreak, although critics argued that the response was delayed.
- Operation Warp Speed: Trump launched Operation Warp Speed, a public-private partnership aimed at accelerating vaccine development. The program successfully helped bring vaccines to market quickly, with the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines receiving emergency approval by the end of 2020.
- Economic Stimulus Packages: In response to the pandemic’s economic impact, Trump signed relief bills, including the CARES Act, which provided direct payments to Americans, expanded unemployment benefits, and offered loans to small businesses.
8. Social and Racial Issues
- Handling of Protests and Civil Unrest: During his term, Trump faced significant protests following high-profile cases of police brutality, including the death of George Floyd in 2020. He took a strong “law and order” stance, deploying federal forces to manage protests, which received mixed reactions from the public.
- Federal Stance on Race Relations: Trump promoted policies to counter Critical Race Theory in government agencies, directing federal institutions to end training programs that he argued portrayed the U.S. in a negative light. Critics felt his approach neglected the underlying issues of systemic racism.