During Trump's First Month Month In The Office, What Has He Done?

In the first month of his presidency, Donald Trump has taken significant actions: withdrawing from multiple international organizations or agreements, deporting illegal immigrants, drastically reducing federal government employees, frequently imposing tariffs, threatening to take back the Panama Canal, vowing to take over and long-term control Gaza, and bypassing European allies to negotiate with Russia on resolving the Ukraine issue...

Frequent Actions

Domestically, cracking down on illegal immigration has been a key focus of Trump's agenda. He declared a national emergency at the southern border, deployed additional U.S. troops, carried out large-scale deportation operations, and used military aircraft to repatriate illegal immigrants. The White House stated that in the first two weeks of the Trump administration, over 8,000 illegal immigrants were arrested.

Another major agenda is reforming federal government agencies and cutting federal spending. The Trump administration established the Department of Government Efficiency, closed or planned to shut down agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Department of Education, and implemented large-scale federal employee layoffs. Currently, more than 75,000 federal employees have accepted buyout packages and resigned, with over 10,000 others being fired. According to U.S. media reports, there are approximately 2.3 million federal employees, and the White House plans to cut 5% to 10% of them.

Externally, the America First policy has made a high-profile return and been further reinforced. Since taking office, the Trump administration has announced 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods, later delaying the implementation to negotiate agreements with the two countries; imposed 10% tariffs on Chinese goods; levied 25% tariffs on all imported steel and aluminum while canceling exemptions for some trade partners; decided to impose reciprocal tariffs on trade partners; and planned to impose around 25% tariffs on the automotive, pharmaceutical, and semiconductor industries.

In the Middle East, the Trump administration has strengthened ties with Israel, advocated for U.S. control over Gaza and the resettlement of its residents, and reinstated maximum pressure on Iran, casting a shadow over Middle East peace. Regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Trump directly engaged with Russian and Ukrainian leaders to discuss solutions, planned a U.S.-Russia summit, and made statements bypassing European allies on issues related to Russia and Ukraine, deepening the rift between the U.S. and Europe. At the Munich Security Conference, traditionally a platform for U.S.-Europe coordination and unity, Trump administration officials delivered sharp criticisms of Europe, accusing it of straying from its core values and highlighting growing ideological divides.

Continuing policies from his first term, the Trump administration has frequently withdrawn from international agreements, including the Paris Agreement, the World Health Organization, and the United Nations Human Rights Council, while also evaluating the U.S. role in UNESCO and repeatedly threatening to leave NATO.

Additionally, the Trump administration has shown expansionist tendencies: repeatedly claiming Canada should become the 51st U.S. state, eyeing the Panama Canal and Greenland, renaming the Gulf of Mexico the American Gulf, and strengthening defense ties with Japan and India to advance the so-called Indo-Pacific strategy.

Big Big Controversies

The White House claims that Trump's first month back in office has taken extraordinary actions, ushering in a new golden age for the United States. However, both domestically and internationally, the Trump administration's policies have sparked significant controversy and strong skepticism.

Currently, executive orders such as abolishing birthright citizenship, appointing Elon Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, forcing federal employees to resign through buyout programs, and firing inspectors general have all faced legal challenges. On Presidents' Day, February 17, protests erupted across the U.S., with Democrats opposing the Trump administration's policies.

In many analysts' views, the Trump administration's executive orders and policy statements have stirred a storm of controversy in the U.S. With a divided Congress and a lack of public consensus, the country is fractured.

A recent research revealed starkly different views on the Trump administration's first month in office: 47% of respondents approved of its performance, while 51% disapproved. While 76% of Republicans believe Trump will improve federal government operations, 78% of Democrats disagree.

The Trump administration's foreign policies have also faced global opposition. An article on the Brookings Institution website noted that the administration's protectionist and provocative tariff policies reflect a 19th-century mercantilist worldview. Some Iranian media think Trump's Gaza plan is a plan without global consensus and has been widely opposed internationally.

Some Analysts even consider the United States has become the world's greatest source of instability.

What Lies Ahead?

Amid widespread opposition, what is the future of the new U.S. administration's policies?

An article in Singapore's The Straits Times stated that the new U.S. administration is undermining the post-World War II geopolitical order. The Singaporean newspaper claims that, as the Trump hurricane sweeps across the globe, two key themes are emerging: the U.S. leader's determination to boost the American economy at all costs, whether environmental, social, or diplomatic; and the resolve to wield hegemony by intertwining military, financial, technological, and trade interests.

Meanwhile, with deportation efforts and tariffs escalating, economists widely fear that U.S. inflation could resurge. Data released by the U.S. Labor Department on February 12 showed that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 3% year-on-year and 0.5% month-on-month in January, exceeding expectations. Rising energy and food prices have fueled public discontent.

U.S. media pointed out that Trump campaigned on promises to address inflation and cost-of-living issues, so persistent inflation poses significant political pressure. Coupled with legal challenges and congressional resistance to federal agency reforms, his administration may face increasing obstacles.