Trumps stunning first 100 days: The highs, the lows and the road ahead

When Donald Trump headed back to the White House on Jan.20, most folks knew him fairly well.They knew his priorities: He’d secure the border, jumpstart US energy, push to end the wars in Ukraine and Middle East and curb lefty cultural excesses.He’d put the interests of America, and its workers, over those of other countries.He’d Make America Great Again.Even so, few could’ve imagined how the returning prez would manage to transform the nation as dramatically as he has in a matter of weeks, not only via his executive orders, but by shifting the debate, restoring common-sense views and saying and doing what his predecessors haven’t.Trump rolled in like a tornado, signing 26 executive orders on his first day — more than any other president.

He also holds the record for first-100-days EOs.Heck, even before taking office, Trump managed to secure a deal for the return of more than 30 hostages from Gaza, with the first released the day before his inauguration.And practically overnight, he ended the border crisis, with the numbers of migrants plummeting more than 90%.Yet another top Trump priority — making the world economy fairer to the United States — has sparked major economic shifts, though not necessarily good ones.His tariffs have helped drive down his approval ratings, with one poll showing him with the lowest rating of any president since World War II.Still, for better or worse, Trump’s actions have been nothing short of stunning.He’s moved the Overton Window — shown what’s possible and put the lie to Democrats’ claims that some things are just not fixable.And if he can get his act together, there are strong grounds to hope for amazing developments over the next four years.Let’s look at all the issues more closely:Migrants: Of all Trump’s 100-day accomplishments, fixing the border mess is, hands-down, his biggest.In just his first full month in office, “southwest land border encounters” averaged a mere 418 per day, down from a...