1. Repealing and Replacing Obamacare
This was the promise Trump rode hardest during his campaign—immediate repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Within hours of being sworn in, Trump signed an executive order signaling his intent. Yet despite controlling both the House and the Senate, Republicans couldn’t deliver.
The proposed American Health Care Act (AHCA), backed by Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan, was so unpopular it never even reached a floor vote. Analysts warned it could leave 14 million Americans without health insurance in the first year alone, a fact that likely sealed its fate. This failure marked a turning point, revealing the rift between Trump’s rhetoric and legislative reality.
2. Delivering a Middle-Class Tax Plan and Jobs Boom
Another cornerstone of Trump’s platform was sweeping tax reform designed to boost the middle class and create millions of jobs. The administration touted a four percent economic growth target and promised 25 million new jobs through tax relief.
But the tax plan released in his first 100 days was less a plan and more a single-page summary—lacking any detail, timeline, or legislative support. Critics called it aspirational at best, with no clear path to implementation. The substance simply didn’t match the promise.
3. Implementing a ‘Muslim Ban’
Within days of taking office, Trump issued an executive order banning travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries. The backlash was immediate. Chaos unfolded at airports, as travelers were detained or turned away. Protests erupted across the country.
Federal courts quickly intervened, halting the executive order on constitutional grounds. A revised version of the ban met the same fate. While the administration would later repackage and legally retool the policy, Trump’s early attempt was a political and procedural disaster.
4. Building a Wall and Making Mexico Pay for It
Perhaps no campaign promise was more symbolic than Trump’s pledge to build a “big, beautiful wall” on the southern border—and make Mexico foot the bill.
By Day 100, no new wall had been built, and Mexico had not paid a single peso. The administration requested $2.6 billion in taxpayer funds for wall construction in its 2018 budget proposal. In reality, the wall became a physical and political metaphor for the challenges of turning campaign chants into viable policy.
5. Draining the Swamp
Trump vowed to eliminate corruption and cronyism in Washington, including implementing term limits for Congress and banning White House officials from lobbying for foreign governments.
While he did sign an executive order restricting some foreign lobbying, other ethics rules were weakened or rolled back. Several cabinet picks were themselves connected to the industries they were tasked with regulating. Term limits? Never introduced. The swamp, it seemed, was simply rebranded.
6. Investing $1 Trillion in Infrastructure
Trump’s promise to “rebuild America” was one of his most bipartisan-friendly ideas. In a joint address to Congress, he proposed a massive infrastructure overhaul, to be funded by both public and private capital.
But by Day 100, there was no plan, no funding, and no bill in motion. Mick Mulvaney, Trump’s budget director, later mentioned a scaled-down $200 billion plan, but no formal legislation was submitted. What could have been a unifying initiative became another missed opportunity.
7. Tearing Up the Iran Nuclear Deal
Trump campaigned hard against the Iran nuclear agreement, calling it one of the worst deals in U.S. history. But 100 days in, the deal remained intact. The administration had not submitted any formal renegotiation terms, and Iran continued to comply with international inspection standards.
This promise, like others, showed that campaign bluster often collides with the complexity of international diplomacy.
8. Requiring U.S. Steel in Pipeline Construction
Trump’s “Buy American” push included promises to use U.S.-made steel in federally approved pipeline projects. At the signing of orders supporting the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines, Trump reiterated this requirement.
However, the administration later clarified that the Keystone XL would not be bound by this rule, since its permitting process was already underway before the executive order was signed. The pledge was quietly scaled back, frustrating supporters who had hoped for more enforcement.
9. Labeling China a Currency Manipulator
On the campaign trail, Trump often targeted China’s trade practices, vowing to officially label the country a currency manipulator in his first 100 days. But by April, he changed his tune.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump said China was not manipulating its currency. The reversal came shortly after Trump reaffirmed the One China Policy and China granted approval for 38 new Trump trademarks. The timing did not go unnoticed.
10. Winning So Much That Americans Would Be Tired of Winning
“We’re gonna win so much, you may even get tired of winning,” Trump famously said in 2016. He promised wins on jobs, foreign policy, veterans’ issues, and healthcare.
By the end of his first 100 days, however, his approval rating stood at 44%, and many of his promised wins were either stalled or abandoned. For a candidate who built his appeal on triumph and spectacle, the reality of governing proved far less theatrical.
Conclusion: A Presidency Still Searching for Results
Trump’s first 100 days were not without action. Executive orders were signed. Regulations were rolled back. Appointments were made. But the gap between promise and performance was hard to ignore.
The early days of his administration reveal a president who excelled at dominating the news cycle but struggled with the realities of policy. Whether that will change in the long run depends on his ability to transition from campaign-style rhetoric to meaningful, detailed governance.
Voters were promised unprecedented wins. What they got, in many cases, was a lesson in political limitations.
