In 2016, instead of a detailed strategy, Donald Trump proposed his own vision of a “new America” driven by nationalist selfish interests. After becoming president, he clearly followed his own concept and was even able to fulfill a number of promises, and not always with a positive outcome.
For years, Donald Trump has been putting into practice his tough rhetoric, transforming the role of the United States on the world stage. He abandoned many international agreements and perverted old alliances. At the same time, Trump’s policies affected migration most seriously.
Although Mexico never paid for the “large, beautiful wall” the president promised to build along the southern border of the United States, the project is now underway. Presumably, 724 of the 3218 kilometers of the wall will be built by the end of the year.
As reported by the Associated Press, citing an analysis by the Migration Policy Institute, Trump applied over 400 administrative measures, effectively destroying the asylum system on the southwest border. It also imposed many new restrictions on legal immigration, and the coronavirus pandemic has made matters worse. Ultimately, it got to the point that the US Citizenship and Immigration Service has almost exhausted its budget and is preparing for massive staff layoffs.
At the same time, some of Trump’s “migration” plans remained unfulfilled. For example, he was unable to create a new “deportation force”, was unable to expel millions from the country and did not stop funding the so-called cities of refuge. The constitutional right to citizenship by birth also remains in effect.
In other areas, Trump’s work has been less straightforward. Having achieved the promised tax cuts early in his term, Trump thereby lowered the corporate tax rate. Trump has pledged to increase economic growth to an average of 3.5% per year. But in no year has it exceeded 3%, and progress in reducing unemployment has been nullified by the pandemic.
The president also failed to fulfill a number of his highly controversial promises, such as the elimination of weapons-free zones in schools. His pledge to spend a trillion dollars to rebuild national infrastructure also fell through. Trump quickly reneged on his promise to never take a vacation during his presidency. He also forgot how he promised to play golf not for fun, but with those who can help him in running the country. But the president launched an aggressive campaign to abolish environmental protection measures and made a special bet on shale oil production.
In foreign policy, America First was felt the most. Trump has increased funding for the army, instigated a race to militarize space, and destroyed arms reduction agreements. Trump pulled the US out of the Paris Climate Agreement and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action for Iran’s Nuclear Program. Trump has clashed with allies and has drawn closer to those who are considered enemies of America.
“I am the only candidate who gave you more than I promised during the campaign. This is true. I am the only one, perhaps, of all that have ever been, ” Donald Trump himself commented on the results of his activities, speaking at a rally in Arizona.