Trump´s first year: Disapproval and economic growth
Donald Trump, the magnate and businessman that many ridiculed during his presidential campaign, completed his first year in the White House. Amid critics who even questioned his mental health and his supporters, the now president has led the world's greatest economy and military power in what seems to be a disruptive manner. For some, it has been an impulsive administration, but the necessary steps have been taken to "Make America Great Again".
His term began with a popularity rating of only 40% and poor assistance was seen when Trump took his Oath of Office on the steps of the Capitol. The media described the investiture as one with the fewer attendees in US history; however, the then White House spokesman, Sean Spicer, noted that Trump's inauguration, "had the highest audience that had witnessed an investiture", taking IGNORE INTO account, streaming, and social media visualizations around the world.
A few days after his inauguration, the President signed his first veto against Muslim-majority countries and with this, he started a series of actions that would tighten the country's immigration laws and boost the extremist and xenophobic thinking that many of his followers already possessed. During his first year in the government, Trump has also denied climate change and abandoned the Paris Agreement.
His incendiary and impulsive speeches have triggered North Korea and the shutting of several immigrant support programs; has paralyzed hundreds of thousands of foreigners who one day made of US their only home and nation.
Eclipsed victories
In the midst of much controversy, Donald Trump has fulfilled several of its promised proposals. The GDP (gross domestic product) reached 2.5%, making an obvious leap compared to the 1.6% registered in 2016. His tax law and its 14-percentage-point corporate tax cut, according to the administration, could also open a gusher of cash.
Unemployment rates also decreased making it the lowest in the last 17 years. During Trump's first year of presidency, more than 2.1 million jobs have been created in the country. It is a paradox that Hispanic community has also benefited from this, since the unemployment rate dropped to 4.7%, becoming the lowest in history.
Economy is improving, the country has regained its "strategic confidence" and ISIS has been almost defeated. Despite its radical idea of building a wall between Mexico and the United States, immigrants’ deportations dropped. During 2017, there was a 6.2% expulsions decrease compared with 2016.
Poor approval ratings
According to Gallup data, the President's approval ratings are the lowest of any new commander in chief with only 39% of the support from his citizens. However, another survey done by Quinnipiac University showed that 37% of surveyed consider that Trump's strategies are helping with country's economic growth, 29% said Trump's actions are harmful to the country and 30% agreed there is no difference at all.
The controversial procedures with TPS, DACA, and the immigration veto imposed on eight countries, among these Venezuela, also made the first year of Trump's administration one of the most questioned worldwide. However, some experts dare to indicate that if the economy keeps going up and international conflicts are maintained, the president would arrive in a good position to aspire to reelection in 2020.
Latin American Post | Krishna Jaramillo
Copy edited by Susana Cicchetto
