Trump's Promises and Claims
Yep, I'm taking him literally.
As we start Trump 2.0, I think it is a good idea to track the impactful things Trump himself or his campaign or administration promised in the campaign and have claimed otherwise. I will try hard to limit this to the actual things said rather than other’s interpretation much less mischaracterization of them—I hope to avoid any “very fine people” mistakes/lies. Trump is bad enough on his own without a need to spin his words.
Note that I am not opposed to all of these. Many I support in part (e.g., ending wars) or in whole (e.g., freeing Ross Ulbricht). This is more about tracking rhetoric versus reality.
I expect to both update this with additions and (if necessary) edits as well as repost occasionally with updates on progress. These will be in no particular order other than the obvious groupings. On to the list.
He will . . .
End the war in the Ukraine before he takes office [Arguably he claimed to end it within 24 hours of being elected] - Status: FAILED TO DO
Lower energy bills by 50% as the method to reduce grocery prices
[Stemming from his first campaign] Eliminate the national debt over eight years [It was $20T upon taking office in his first term; since he gave himself 8 years, I’m including it in this list.] - Status: FAILED TO MAKE PROGRESS ON since debt was $27.7T at the end of his first term with $3.2T of the addition coming before COVID. It is approaching $36T as he takes office the second time.
On Day One
Free Ross Ulbricht - Status: FULFILLED on day two in office
Delay a ban on TikTok - Status: FULFILLED
End birthright citizenship - Status: ATTEMPTED
Impose 25% tariffs on ALL products coming from Mexico and Canada [These are to stay into place “until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!”] - Status: FAILED TO DO promised instead to being a research process and may install these tariffs by February 1.
Repeal Biden's tailpipe emissions rule, which effectively mandates that the majority of new cars sold in America by 2032 will have to be electric vehicles [Originally a Day One imitative, but he admitted it could take two days.] - Status: FULFILLED at least in part through executive orders signed within the first two days in office.
Get the federal government out of education including ending the Department of Education
End taxes on tips and overtime and Social Security [To be fair he may have only said seniors should not pay tax on SS. Updated: He reiterated this at a rally in Las Vegas on 1/25/25.]
Put a temporary cap on consumer credit card interest rates at 10%
Deport all illegal immigrants [Updated: He reiterated during his inauguration speech, “All illegal entry will be immediately halted and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places they came.”]
Appoint a libertarian to his cabinet and many libertarians to senior posts
Pardon at least some of the January 6 rioters - Status: FULFILLED
[Updated to add]
Will he come through? We shall see . . .