Donald Trump returned to the White House for a second term on January 20, 2025, ushering in a year of sweeping changes to U.S. domestic policy and foreign relations.
Over the past year, his administration has reshaped governance through an aggressive use of executive power, hardline immigration enforcement, trade protectionism, and a rollback of climate and diversity initiatives.
From the outset, Trump moved quickly. On his first day in office, he signed 26 executive orders. By the end of his first year in his second term, that number had risen to 228, underscoring a presidency driven heavily by unilateral executive action.
Executive Orders
Between January 20, 2025, and January 20, 2026, Trump signed a total of 228 executive orders, marking one of the most order-driven first years of any modern U.S. presidency.
Hardline Immigration Enforcement
Immigration policy became a defining feature of Trump’s second term. Over the year, the administration stripped an estimated 1.6 million people of legal immigration status, deported around 605,000 individuals, and detained 66,886 people through Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Arrests averaged 821 per day, while immigration from 75 countries was barred entirely.
Tariffs and Trade
Trump reintroduced and expanded tariffs on foreign goods, reshaping global trade flows. The measures increased costs for U.S. households but also generated substantial government revenue, with China and other major trading partners among the most affected.
Federal Workforce Cuts and Governance Changes
The administration carried out sweeping changes within the federal government, including shutting down all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices and cutting approximately 317,000 federal jobs over the course of the year.
Global Diplomacy
Despite an “America First” approach, Trump remained active on the global stage, visiting 13 countries. His travels included Italy, Vatican City, Saudi Arabia, Qatar (twice), the UAE, Canada, the Netherlands, the UK (twice), Israel, Egypt, Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea.
Military Operations Abroad
During Trump’s second term, the U.S. authorised more than 658 air and drone strikes across eight countries — Iraq, Somalia, Iran, Yemen, Syria, Nigeria, and Venezuela — largely as part of U.S.-led coalition operations.
Environmental Rollbacks
Environmental policy saw sharp reversals. The administration withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement, overturned more than 30 climate-related executive orders enacted under President Joe Biden, and opened approximately 2.5 million square kilometres of ocean area for drilling.
Together, these decisions have significantly reshaped America’s domestic priorities and global posture, reinforcing Trump’s signature governing style and leaving a lasting impact on U.S. institutions and international relations.
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