Trump marks turbulent 100 days of 2nd term with controversy, and low approval

United States President Donald Trump celebrated the 100-day mark of his second term Tuesday with a campaign-style rally in Michigan, amid a storm of political controversy, economic unrest, and sliding approval ratings.

The 47th president—whose return to office has been marked by sweeping policy reversals, trade wars, and institutional upheaval—claimed he was on track to fulfill all of his campaign promises.

“I think either we’ve done everything, or it’s in the process of being done,” he told reporters ahead of the rally in Warren, Michigan, a battleground state he won in a surprise November victory over Kamala Harris.

However, recent polling paints a stark contrast. A Washington Post–ABC News survey released Sunday found only 39% of Americans approve of Trump’s performance, with disapproval even rising on formerly popular policies such as immigration.

Public concern has deepened over deportations carried out without due process and the economic fallout from his aggressive tariff strategy.

Economic turbulence and Musk’s influence

Wall Street has reacted sharply to Trump’s second term. The stock market has dropped over 6% since January, though markets rose modestly Tuesday after reports emerged that Trump would soften tariffs impacting automakers.

His recent decision to reverse threats against Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, whom he had earlier clashed with, signaled a possible shift in tone as inflation worries mount.

Billionaire ally Elon Musk, a powerful figure in the administration, has orchestrated large-scale reductions in the federal workforce and unilaterally slashed billions from congressional appropriations, particularly to universities, which Trump has labeled “hubs of disloyalty.”

A presidency reshaped, and reshaping America

In a series of symbolic and confrontational moves, Trump has removed Barack Obama’s portrait from the White House and replaced it with a self-commissioned painting depicting him surviving an assassination attempt.

He has also used executive power to pressure law firms and threatened to withdraw government contracts from firms whose partners have previously opposed him in court.

With more than 140 executive orders signed in his first 100 days, Trump has stretched presidential authority further than most of his predecessors, drawing legal challenges along the way. Among his most controversial actions is a bid to end birthright citizenship—a move that directly contradicts the U.S. Constitution.

Base remains loyal, Democrats attack

Trump’s core support remains solid. At Tuesday’s Michigan rally, supporters like 65-year-old Donna Fitzsimons dismissed concerns about the tariffs. “He’s amazing… it takes time to get where you need to go,” she said.

Meanwhile, Democrats have accused Trump of worsening Americans’ daily lives. “Trump is to blame for the fact that life is more expensive, it’s harder to retire, and a ‘Trump recession’ is at our doorstep,” said the Democratic National Committee, calling his second-term start a “colossal failure.”

Despite campaign pledges, Trump has made little progress on foreign policy breakthroughs, including his frequently repeated vow to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours—a promise he now claims was made “in jest.”