Trump’s Progress on Campaign Promises Shows Mixed Results Ahead of State of the Union

As President Donald Trump prepares to deliver his first State of the Union address since returning to the White House, his record on key campaign promises reveals a complex picture of achievements and ongoing challenges. The administration has made notable strides in some areas while facing setbacks and legal obstacles in others.

Recent polling data from Fox News indicates that voters remain skeptical about Trump’s performance on several fronts, with approval ratings at just 40% on the economy, 37% on foreign policy, and 37% on tariffs. Immigration stands as a relative bright spot, with 44% approval overall and a more favorable 52% approval specifically on border security.

On immigration—a cornerstone of Trump’s campaign—Department of Homeland Security data shows a marked decrease in illegal border crossings between ports of entry. This achievement will likely feature prominently in Tuesday’s address as evidence of progress toward fulfilling a major campaign pledge.

However, Trump’s ambitious promise to implement mass deportations has encountered significant resistance. While operations such as “Metro Surge” have resulted in removals, they have fallen short of the “millions” Trump promised on the campaign trail. These efforts have also triggered hundreds of lawsuits, complicating implementation.

Julian Epstein, a Democratic consultant and former House Judiciary Committee chief counsel, acknowledges Trump has “secured the borders,” but criticizes the administration for failing to adequately explain “his purpose and rationale on deportation” to the public.

Theo Wold, who served in the first Trump administration as an assistant attorney general, praised Trump for reversing what he characterized as the Biden administration’s “criminal undermining of federal immigration law.” However, he conceded that controversies surrounding deportations have overshadowed other immigration initiatives, including regulatory changes targeting asylum fraud and foreign labor visa reforms.

On tariffs, another signature Trump policy, the administration has faced judicial constraints. The Supreme Court dealt a blow to Trump’s tariff strategy by ruling he could not unilaterally impose broad tariffs on an emergency basis without congressional approval. Adapting to this setback, Trump announced a new 10% global tariff under different legal authority and has signaled plans to increase it to 15%.

“He has a good reason to claw back the losses of the middle class in the last three decades,” Epstein said of Trump’s tariff approach, though he criticized the implementation as “too diffuse, not sufficiently targeted, and poorly explained to the public.”

Bradley Devlin, an editor at the conservative Daily Signal, defended the tariff policy, noting that “doomsday predictions about Trump’s tariffs have not panned out” and arguing that “for the first time in a long time, real wages are rising for working Americans.”

In foreign policy, Trump’s campaign promise to swiftly end the war in Ukraine remains unfulfilled. Nevertheless, his administration has received praise for other diplomatic initiatives. Epstein credits Trump with resolving eight international conflicts and making significant progress in the Middle East compared to the Biden administration’s approach. He also cited efforts to “squeeze out” communist regimes in Venezuela and Cuba as evidence of securing the Western Hemisphere.

Devlin, however, expressed concern about potential military action against Iran, arguing it contradicts Trump’s peace message and noting that two key campaign promises—peace in Ukraine and resolving Middle East conflicts—remain “elusive.”

The U.S. economy, central to Trump’s 2024 campaign, shows signs of improvement. Recent government data indicates easing inflation, though it continues to be a concern for many Americans. Trump has highlighted the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—a comprehensive tax and spending law enacted in July 2025—as a major legislative achievement supporting his economic agenda.

Elizabeth Pipko, a Republican National Committee spokesperson, described economic growth under Trump as “robust,” citing falling inflation and gas prices alongside rising wages. “The progress made in one year has far surpassed what anyone could have predicted,” Pipko said.

As Trump approaches the State of the Union, these mixed results on campaign promises reflect both tangible achievements and persistent challenges that will likely shape the remainder of his term and his message to the American people on Tuesday night.