Democratic opposition falters as Trump implements ambitious agenda amidst widespread chaos in first 100 days.
Spinning the Script on Trump's First 100 Days
Flashback to the eve of Trump's inauguration, two citizens from contrasting political spectrums voiced their hopes and fears for the president's incoming second stint.
"He's gonna renew faith in the government," forecasted Jeff Wilford, a ceramics peddler and Trump devotee, making a pilgrimage to Washington D.C. for the grand ceremony and attending a pro-Trump rally on the 19th.
"He's gonna protect our borders, economically flourish the nation, and usher in a golden era of the New America," he confidently predicted.
One day prior, we chatted with Bill, who took part in the anti-Trump People's March on the 18th. Dressed as none other than Uncle Sam, adorned with an immense flag-colored hat, he voiced concern about Trump's potential destruction of the civil service.
Fast-forward 100 days... "We ain't secured the border, the economy's in the crapper, and faith in the government is at an all-time low," critiqued Herman Mark Schwartz, a political scientist at the University of Virginia.
Schwartz further believed Bill's fears were warranted, as evidenced by the wholesale purge of thousands of federal employees via executive orders executed by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
"When you fire people, they'll start seeking other jobs," Schwartz reasoned. "And as more people fail to return to their original jobs, organizations lose the institutional knowledge that helps make those organizations run smoothly."
Schwartz's concerns were echoed by many Democrats who view Trump's early moves as a direct war on the pillars of government and democracy.
Trump had signed a staggering 137 executive orders in his first 100 days. Compare this to the just over 40 his predecessor, Joe Biden, signed, and mere 19 that Barack Obama had signed during the same period.
Trump's early orders included measures facilitating the arrest of individuals accused of being "illegal immigrants" or "gang members", circumventing the usual judicial processes for establishing the facts.
"Once you begin arresting people on the street and deporting them without a formal legal hearing, you've scrapped due process as we know it," Schwartz affirmed.
Charles Bullock III, a political scientist at the University of Georgia, labeled Trump's first 100 days as "chaotic."
"There's no consistency. Every day, Trump wakes up and acts on whatever impulse directs him, whether it's to raise or lower tariffs, keep an eye on the stock market, or tackle institutions of higher education," he said.
Democrats, now a minority in both houses of Congress, are struggling to counter Trump's dizzying array of executive orders and their repercussions. Scholars like Schwartz argue that immediate action is required to protect democratic norms and institutions before their complete dismantling.
Grassroots activism is burgeoning amidst uncertain leadership. Tina Shannon, a long-time Democratic campaigner, describes the newfound energy: "We had the largest rally in my lifetime at the courthouse last month. Mostly organized by our Democratic committee. Over 500 people attended..."
On the ground, economic hardship fuels popular discontent. Tina lives in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, once an industrial powerhouse but now plagued by outsourcing and corruption. Randolph, her husband and secretary of Progressive Democrats of America, touches on the resulting struggles: "There's significantly more homelessness and poverty here... The minimum wage hasn't been adjusted in 15 years, creating widespread discontent and financial strain..."
Cuts to social programs are taking their toll, as well. "Dozens of programs have been axed... for example, the food stamp program," Shannon shares her fears.
Trump's campaign promise of lower egg prices has worried Tina. "Prices have dropped a dollar for the eggs I bought just a few weeks ago, but I've heard it's due to reduced health and safety standards for the eggs, which makes me wary..."
The coming months will try the resilience of the opposition and challenge the foundations of the nation's institutions themselves, warn some scholars. The stakes, they argue, are nothing less than the survival of American democratic norms.
- Jeff Wilford, a Trump supporter, expected improved faith in government, secured borders, and economic growth during Trump's second stint as president.
- Bill, an anti-Trump protester, feared the potential destruction of the civil service under the incoming administration on the eve of the inauguration.
- Schwartz, a political scientist, criticized Trump for failing to secure the border, improve the economy, and maintain faith in the government after 100 days.
- Schwartz also warned of the consequences of mass firings of federal employees via executive orders, citing loss of institutional knowledge and smooth operations.
- Democrats view Trump's early moves as a direct attack on the pillars of government and democracy.
- Trump signed significantly more executive orders in his first 100 days compared to his predecessors, Biden and Obama.
- Trump's early orders included measures facilitating the arrest and deportation of individuals without proper judicial process, which Schwartz argued scrapped due process.
- Progressive Democrats in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, expressed concerns over increased economic hardship, cuts to social programs, and potentially lowered health and safety standards as a result of Trump's policies.
