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The initial 30 days of Donald Trump’s second term in the White House have been filled with a flurry of executive actions, legal battles, and controversies.
Following his inauguration on January 20, the president has quickly initiated a diverse range of policies, including imposing tariffs on China and US allies, engaging in talks with Russia’s leader to resolve the invasion of Ukraine, and calling for an end to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Additionally, he has managed turbulent attempts to halt federal funding and dismiss thousands of workers from several federal agencies, notably the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Here’s a glimpse at the figures from Trump’s inaugural month in office.
A surge of executive actions
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Trump is poised to outpace his predecessors in executive actions, having already signed 73 within his first 30 days, surpassing the two-term total of previous leaders.
The orders cover a broad spectrum of departments and policies. Some, such as the formation of the Department of Government Efficiency, which is reportedly overseen by Elon Musk (though the government denies he holds the position), have led to substantial changes, including the layoff of over 10,000 federal employees, some of which are still entangled in legal disputes.
Other actions are ensnared in judicial challenges, like an appeal against the constitutional doctrine of birthright citizenship, which has been blocked by various judges.
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Moreover, some orders lack significant immediate effects and seem designed to convey Trump’s viewpoints or serve as signals to his supporters, such as an order on ‘restoring freedom of speech’, where he accused Biden’s administration of censorship.
Persisting inflation
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One of Trump’s major campaign pledges was to reduce living costs. While it’s too soon to assess the effects of his recent tariffs based on the first month’s data, inflation remains stubbornly high. In January, the consumer price index increased by 3% year-on-year, significantly above the Federal Reserve’s target rate of 2%.
The surge in prices is partly driven by increased egg prices, a result of farmers slaughtering millions of chickens to curtail the spread of avian flu. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 15.2% increase in the egg price index over the past month—the steepest rise since June 2015.
These elevated costs are affecting Trump’s popularity. A majority of respondents in SSRS and UJ’s February poll (62%) believe the president has not taken sufficient steps to lower daily expenses.
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An Ipsos and Washington Post poll from February revealed that 53% of Americans disapprove of how he is managing the economy—the highest level of dissatisfaction observed during Trump’s tenures.
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Tepid reaction to tariffs
Since his inauguration, Trump has proposed a multitude of tariffs aimed at various nations and products, although many are yet to take effect.
His announcement of a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, anticipated to begin on March 12, has increased aluminum prices and created uncertainty for US businesses, from manufacturers to oil and gas companies.
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However, stock markets do not seem concerned about the upcoming tariffs.
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Stagnant approval ratings
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Trump’s current approval rating of 49% is higher than at any point during his first term, yet it still falls behind those of previous presidents, including Biden, based on findings from FiveThirtyEight.
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The American populace appears split regarding Trump’s performance, with 47% voicing disapproval.
Contrarily, support for Trump’s immigration policies is notable, as 55% of respondents in SSRS and UJ’s February survey expressed satisfaction with the president’s deportation actions or desire for stronger measures.
The survey also indicated that Trump’s suggestion of a US takeover of Gaza was unpopular, with 58% of Americans deeming it a poor idea, including 86% of Democrats, 60% of independents, and 27% of Republicans.
Declining immigrant detentions
In the week following Trump’s inauguration, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency initiated extensive arrests of undocumented migrants in alignment with the president’s promised enforcement. On January 26, the agency reported nearly 1,000 arrests in a single day.
However, recent ICE arrest data have been inconsistently released on social media, complicating tracking and comparison efforts, with no clarity on the prior criminal history of those apprehended or the locations of the arrests.
According to NBC News, daily arrests dwindled to around 300 during the first weekend of February. There has also been a lack of detention space, leading to the release of at least 461 immigrants previously apprehended in earlier operations.
Recently, two senior ICE officials were reassigned amid increasing pressure on the agency to significantly boost its arrest numbers.
In addition to ICE operations, illegal border crossings dropped drastically in January, reaching their lowest monthly figures since February 2021. US Customs and Border Protection reported roughly 29,000 detentions at the US-Mexico border last month, down from about 47,000 in December.
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