US President Donald Trump travelled to the battleground state of Michigan to celebrate his first 100 days in front of a crowd of loyal supporters (Image: AP)
The first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second stint as US President have been a far cry from his setback-laden first term. In stark contrast to 2017, when the 78-year-old Republican leader faced significant challenges in delivering on his promises to MAGA supporters amid scandals and party infighting, Trump has made considerable steps forward in achieving his campaign goals this time around.
The swift manner in which the MAGA movement has taken hold of the reins of power has caught many off guard, including some of Trump’s own supporters. The majority of his presidential nominations have breezed through the GOP-dominated Senate, and his agenda has rapidly spread through the American government – thanks in part to billionaire Elon Musk’s DOGE initiative, which claims to have yielded massive cuts in federal spending.
To commemorate the 100-day milestone of his second term, President Trump hosted a massive rally, a hallmark of his public appeal, drawing thousands of ardent supporters. In Warren, Michigan, a state instrumental in his electoral college victory, Trump proclaimed his affection for the crowd, vowing that jobs for auto workers would soon return due to the “most successful first 100 days of any administration in the history of our country.”
He added: “We’ve just started, you haven’t seen anything yet.”
President Trump took to the stage and re-litigated the election campaign he had won against the Democrats (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Just an hour before his rousing speech in Michigan, Donald Trump paid a visit to the Selfridge Air National Guard Base, where he addressed troops alongside Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. The former President boasted about his administration’s commitment to revitalising American jobs and made a bold promise to the gathered servicemen, pledging 21 brand new F-15 fighter jets and vowing to prevent the closure of their airbase.
Before the rally, he also enacted a slew of executive orders aimed at mitigating the effects of his comprehensive tariffs on the US auto industry, which is largely centred in Detroit, Michigan. These automotive giants were hit with hefty 25 per cent tariffs on vehicles and components back in March, as part of Trump’s campaign to repatriate manufacturing jobs to the US.
The executive orders signed on Tuesday offer major car manufacturers a chance to recoup the costs from tariffs on foreign imports, depending on their sales figures and pricing. This relief is set for a two-year duration, giving companies time to adjust their supply chains away from a dependence on global trade.
Taking the stage in Michigan, Trump lauded the “remarkable” effects of his first 14 weeks at the helm on both the economy and immigration policy. However, he swiftly pivoted to lambaste his critics and quell any dissent within the Republican ranks, urging voters to oust GOP “grandstanders” from Congress should they fail to support his platform.
“We’re taking back our country from a sick political class that got rich selling America out and bleeding America dry,” Trump claimed in his speech.
Donald Trump waves to people at his rally, after coming on to his signature YMCA jingle (Image: AP)
He continued: “After years of leaders who sent your money to defend the borders of other foreign nations, that’s what we did, we’d fight for other nations but not ourselves. You finally have a president who is defending our borders and our nation.”
Addressing the local supporters, Trump declared, “After decades of politicians who destroyed Detroit to build up Beijing, you finally have a champion for workers in the White House. Instead of putting China first, I’m putting Michigan first, and I’m putting America first.”
At the rally, President Trump cycled through what he views as his top achievements, lambasting the Democrats for their supposed incompetence, criticising sections of the media for disseminating ‘fake news’, and recalling the performance of his predecessor whom he tauntingly referred to as ‘Sleepy Joe. ‘ He also brought up his defeated rival’s appointment as border czar, erroneously claiming that illegal immigration figures had plummeted to merely three individuals in his initial three months.
The former President took the opportunity to boast about the record number of executive orders he has signed in recent months, more than any other president in the past century. He also highlighted his aggressive crackdown on illegal immigrants and asylum seekers.
However, these actions have sparked controversy, with US Immigration officials often detaining and deporting individuals without trial – including Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who had a right to stay in the country but is now lost in a mega-prison in El Salvador.
Trump later criticised the judiciary for infringing on his presidential authority, labelling judges as “communist” for challenging ICE’s extensive deportations, which often overlook due process.
To the applause of his supporters, Trump displayed a video of deportees, their heads shaved and limbs shackled, being taken into the notorious Cecot prison in El Salvador. The country has agreed to accept individuals deemed criminals, frequently without trial, in exchange for financial aid from the US.
The next target of Trump’s tirade was the “fake polls”, released just days ago, indicating that Trump has the lowest approval ratings of any president in 80 years during his first 100 days in office. A total of 55 per cent expressed disapproval of his efforts, while only 39 per cent believed he was performing well.