LISTEN: Donald Trump’s second first term’s theme is ‘determination,’ AP reporters say

One Year Into Trump’s Second Term: Bold Actions and Controversies Mark Administration’s Approach

In the year since Donald Trump’s second inauguration, the president has implemented sweeping policy changes that have transformed the federal government, deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to major American cities, and faced numerous challenges on both domestic and international fronts.

White House observers note a marked difference in Trump’s leadership style compared to his first term. “One of the major themes of Trump’s second first term is just this sort of determination,” says AP White House reporter Darlene Superville. “When he was president the first time, Donald Trump was coming to Washington from being a businessman. He’d never really been in politics before.”

This time, Trump has surrounded himself with trusted allies who can implement his agenda efficiently. This strategic staffing approach has enabled the administration to move quickly on key campaign promises.

Among the most significant initiatives is the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), spearheaded by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Under Musk’s direction, teams of analysts scrutinized federal departments, identifying areas for cost reduction and job elimination. The results have been dramatic, with thousands of federal workers terminated and significant spending cuts implemented, though falling short of Musk’s ambitious $2 billion target.

The president’s focus on urban crime has manifested in controversial deployments of National Guard troops to several major cities, beginning with Washington, D.C., and extending to Chicago, Portland, and New Orleans. “He sees sending the guard into these cities as part of that bullet item on his agenda,” Superville explains. Months later, uniformed personnel remain visible on Washington streets and in train stations, despite Trump’s contested claims about crime reduction.

Immigration enforcement has emerged as perhaps the most polarizing aspect of Trump’s second term. The administration has conducted extensive ICE operations in Minnesota, particularly targeting the Somali community amid allegations of fraud. These actions have sparked widespread protests and intense criticism, especially following the fatal shooting of an American woman by an ICE agent during an operation.

“He wanted to carry out the largest mass deportation ever in U.S. history,” Superville notes. “But one of the things that people around the country are seeing and also objecting to is just the sheer force of this effort.”

The aggressive immigration tactics have weakened Trump’s position even among his supporters. A recent AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found just 38 percent of adults approve of the president’s handling of immigration, with approval among Republicans dropping twelve percentage points over the past year.

Despite campaigning as a peacemaker in global conflicts, Trump has struggled to deliver on several key foreign policy promises. His pledge to end Russia’s war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office remains unfulfilled nearly a year later. While he received initial praise for proposing a plan to resolve tensions between Israel and Gaza, the proposal has yet to be fully adopted.

Meanwhile, the administration has expanded American military involvement overseas, particularly in Venezuela, where U.S. forces have conducted strikes against suspected drug smugglers and executed a surprising overnight raid into Caracas. Trump has suggested the United States will play a major role in controlling Venezuelan oil sales, prompting criticism from lawmakers concerned about unauthorized military actions abroad.

The president has also pursued an unusual interest in acquiring Greenland, citing national security concerns, though Denmark and Greenland officials have firmly rejected these overtures.

Domestically, Trump has faced pressure regarding the Jeffrey Epstein case files. Initially reluctant to release these documents despite their importance to his base, the president changed course only after Congress moved to force the Justice Department’s hand through legislation.

Economic management remains a challenge for the administration. Despite Trump’s claims of record-breaking growth and defeated inflation, only 37 percent of Americans approve of his economic leadership, according to recent polling. His frequent criticism of Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell and demands for lower interest rates have created tensions with the independent central bank.

In a departure from tradition, Trump has taken personal interest in White House renovations typically overseen by the first lady. Major projects have included redecorating the Oval Office with gold accents and presidential portraits, paving over the Rose Garden to create a patio, renovating the Lincoln bedroom bathroom with marble finishes, and installing massive flagpoles on the White House grounds.

Looking ahead to the 2026 midterm elections, Trump faces the historical pattern of the president’s party losing congressional seats. With narrow GOP majorities in both chambers, Democrats need only flip four Senate seats to regain control. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has expressed optimism about his party’s chances, telling the AP that “the path toward actually doing that is now much wider than it has been.”

Trump is actively working to help Republicans maintain control of Congress, employing unconventional tactics such as encouraging Republican-led states to redraw congressional districts ahead of schedule. During a recent address to House Republicans, he bluntly warned that Democratic victories would lead to investigations of his administration and potentially impeachment proceedings.

As his second term approaches its midpoint, Trump’s determination to implement his agenda has produced significant changes in government operations and American society, though not without substantial controversy and resistance.