President Donald Trump’s first year back in office has been marked by speed, shock and scale.
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Returning with promises of “radical change,” he has unleashed a cascade of executive actions that are transforming the federal government, immigration policy, trade relations and America’s role abroad.
Supporters say Trump is finally delivering on his pledges.
Critics warn his “imperialist” approach strains U.S. institutions and alienates longtime allies, especially in Europe.
On Politics & Power this week, we’re unpacking what has changed, what may be irreversible, and what it means for American democracy.
Pendulum of power
Democratic politics often swing like a pendulum: new presidents undo policies of their predecessors. But Trump is not just tweaking policy — he is testing the limits of presidential power itself.
His heavy reliance on executive orders and unilateral directives has bypassed Congress on major issues like immigration, trade and government restructuring.
Some changes, like tariffs, can be reversed.
Others, such as weakening oversight and reshaping the civil service, risk permanently altering how the system operates.
The core question: Is this a pendulum swing or a permanent bending of the frame?
Immigration: From crackdown to escalation
Immigration remains central to Trump’s agenda, as in his campaigns.
The White House touts record-low illegal border crossings, crediting stricter enforcement, expanded detention, accelerated removals and pressure on neighboring countries.
Yet deportation sweeps often target migrants without criminal records, raising civil liberties concerns.
Policies have escalated beyond past crackdowns, including rapid expulsions and testing asylum and due process norms. Immigration is no longer just about numbers; it tests the rule of law, human rights and executive reach.
Shrinking government, weakening watchdogs
Trump vowed to “demolish the deep state.” One year in, that means a significantly downsized federal workforce through hiring freezes and cuts. Supporters say this trims bureaucracy.
The administration has also purged or sidelined many independent inspectors general — watchdogs who audit agencies and investigate waste and abuse.
Critics warn that fewer watchdogs and politicized agency leadership make corruption and abuse harder to detect.
Trade and tariffs
Trump campaigned on tariffs to rebalance trade and prioritize American workers. Year one has seen broad tariffs imposed or threatened on major partners, upending global trade.
Rather than clear gains, tariffs have generated uncertainty, strained supply chains and raised costs for businesses and consumers.
The prolonged trade confrontation with China illustrates these impacts, with industries facing retaliatory tariffs and shifting regulations.
While the U.S. economy grows, the long-term effects on competitiveness and the global trade order remain uncertain.
Foreign policy shockwaves
Trump’s second-term foreign policy is more transactional, personal and militarized.
The administration helped broker an uneasy Gaza cease-fire, reducing violence but leaving questions about lasting peace.
A promised Ukraine peace deal remains unfulfilled, with claims of conflict resolution often exaggerated.
The most dramatic move came in Venezuela, where U.S.-backed forces ousted the president in an overnight raid, with Washington taking control of leadership and oil resources.
While framed as promoting democracy, many allies view it as overt regime change, criticizing Trump’s “imperialist approach.”
These actions highlight a contradiction: a president pledging to avoid wars now projecting force for regime change, raising alarms about eroding international norms.
Economy and affordability
Trump promised to “rapidly drive prices down and make America affordable again.”
One year later, prices remain higher, with housing, energy and essentials straining budgets.
The economy continues to grow, tariffs have not caused predicted catastrophes, unemployment is manageable, and some sectors, like energy and manufacturing, have gained.
The paradox is growth alongside widespread anxiety about the cost of living and economic security.
The drug war
Trump vowed unprecedented intensity against drug cartels, expanding enforcement, penalties, and militarized border posture.
However, the approach reveals contradictions: harsh enforcement contrasts with uneven focus on treatment and prevention, shifting opioid rhetoric, and civil liberties concerns.
A force-only strategy risks repeating decades of mixed results.
The courts and justice system
Perhaps the most far-reaching changes are in law and institutions.
Trump has politicized the Justice Department, using it to intimidate rivals and critics. The norm of prosecutorial independence has been tested or ignored.
He has refused to commit to following adverse court rulings, dismissing courts as “biased” or “illegitimate.” This undermines judicial independence and public trust, encouraging supporters to view legal constraints as political obstacles.
These trends stress the rule of law in the U.S.
Expanding presidential power
The administration has pursued expanding presidential power and centralizing control through loyalist appointments, weakened oversight, reliance on executive orders, and challenges to congressional and judicial checks.
The result is a more dominant presidency with fewer external constraints, redefining the office in practice if not in law.
Is democracy at stake?
Many Americans worry democracy is at risk due to attacks on the press, courts, watchdogs and civil service, and the concentration of power in one office.
Others emphasize democracy’s deep roots and resilient institutions. Courts still issue rulings, and Congress, states and civil society contest overreach.
The question is whether strain leads to breakdown, adaptation, or correction.
The big questions: What changes forever?
Will the presidency and Washington ever be the same?
Even if policies are reversed, precedents on military use for regime change, ignoring allies, purging watchdogs, pressuring courts and weaponizing law enforcement are now set.
Future presidents may embrace or reject these expanded powers. Boundaries of acceptable presidential behavior have been tested and stretched.
Why it matters
The first year of Trump’s second term is a live experiment in presidential power limits.
For citizens, it raises questions about rights and accountability. For allies and rivals, it forces recalculation of America’s role—from reliable partner to unpredictable power.
For the presidency’s future, it may set a new baseline for power and confrontation.
How voters, courts, Congress, and the world respond will determine if this moment is a temporary shock or a turning point in American democracy.
Key points
- Immigration enforcement has reduced illegal crossings but raised civil liberties concerns.
- The federal workforce has shrunk, and watchdogs weakened, reducing oversight.
- Tariffs have unsettled global markets and strained alliances despite economic growth.
- Foreign policy includes Gaza cease-fire, stalled Ukraine peace, and U.S.-backed Venezuela regime change.
- Prices remain high, making affordability a major issue amid growth.
- Drug policy is aggressive but inconsistent on treatment and prevention.
- Justice Department politicization and court challenges threaten judicial norms.
- Presidential power has centralized and expanded, testing checks and balances.
- Democracy faces strain but institutions show resilience if defended.
The bottom line
Trump’s first year of his second term has been transformational in policy and power. He has shaken Washington, cracked down on immigration, and disrupted trade and geopolitics.
Yet he has strained alliances, weakened oversight, and challenged norms that restrain presidential power.
Whether this marks a peak of executive overreach, or a new presidency model depends on what comes next—from voters, Congress, courts and citizens deciding how much power any president should hold.
Our conversation
These themes are at the heart of the latest episode of Politics & Power, where News4JAX Political Analyst Rick Mullaney, head of the Jacksonville University Haskell Public Policy Institute, joins me to explore:
- Trump’s first year back in the White House
- Record-low illegal crossings, a U.S.-backed ouster of Venezuela’s president, and sweeping moves to expand presidential power.
- How the Supreme Court rulings may reshape America
- Whether American democracy is being pushed to the breaking point
Watch live at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday or watch a replay at 7 p.m. or 9 p.m. Tuesday on News4JAX+. Or you can catch the latest episode any time on demand on News4JAX+, News4JAX.com or our YouTube channel.