Trump one year later: what has he accomplished?
He had promised spectacular reforms and quickly put in place. A year after his election, the record of the American president's action remains slim.
He was the business ace. From day one he was going to put in place all kinds of spectacular reforms. But nearly ten months after coming to power, Donald Trump does not have the smallest legislative victory to his name, despite a Republican majority in Congress. It can nevertheless boast of some successes.
Stock Exchange
It is worn like a charm. The S&P 500 Index has risen 21% since Trump's election. Is it because investors all expect wonders from the tax reform under discussion that is supposed to benefit companies?
Weather
Donald Trump withdrew, as he had promised, from the Paris Agreement on June 1, despite pressure from many industrialists, environmental groups and even his daughter and son-in-law. "I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not of Paris," he says. For the president, regulations on greenhouse gases are a constraint on the economy and kill jobs.
Supreme Court
Trump's biggest achievement has been to appoint Neil Gorsuch, a very conservative judge, to the Supreme Court, which has thrilled his base.
Employment
The American economy is picking up, but this is undoubtedly more a consequence of Barack Obama's stimulus policy than of Donald Trump's initiatives. He promised to create 25 million jobs over 10 years. So far, the unemployment rate has fallen to 4.1%, the lowest rate in 17 years. And the president is bragging about the creation of 1.5 million jobs since his arrival.
Environment
The Environmental Protection Agency, under the leadership of climate skeptic Scott Pruitt, has started to dismantle all regulations introduced by Barack Obama, particularly in terms of water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. This should help revive the coal industry and create jobs. Donald Trump also promised to authorize more drilling on federal lands.
Immigration
The president signed several decrees to temporarily ban the entry of the territory to nationals and refugees from half a dozen Muslim countries. The official aim is to prevent the arrival of potential terrorists. But justice blocked each of these decrees. Donald Trump also promised to put an end to the DACA, a program which protects from deportation some 800,000 young children who came to the United States with their immigrant parents. But he finally gave six months to those who benefit from it. And left it to Congress to find a solution.
Infrastructure
He had promised a $ 1 trillion investment plan to rebuild badly needed American bridges and highways. The ace ! He did not explain how he was going to set up public-private funding. And since this is the last concern of Congress, there is little chance that this measure will take effect in the short term.
Wall
He had promised a "beautiful" wall along the border with Mexico. And it is the latter who had to foot the bill of 20 billion dollars. The catch is that Mexico refuses. And Congress did not allocate the funds in the budget. So for now, only prototypes are being built. We will have to test them, then make calls for tenders, which should take a year. We will also have to negotiate expropriations with the landowners, who will fight tooth and nail to avoid giving up their land.
Obamacare
Donald Trump had promised to replace Obama's health care reform with something much better. Because it is according to him a gas plant which functions badly, and the amounts of the contributions do not stop climbing. He's not wrong. But he was unable to come up with a replacement project. Just like the Congress, where the rival factions within the Republican Party have not managed to agree on a compromise text. As a result, Obamacare is still in place but hardly brave, as the administration is doing everything to empty it of its substance. For example, it reduced the registration period, made no advertising, threatened to withdraw federal aid ...
Tax reform
Trump has promised to simplify the tax code and make massive tax cuts. The project is under discussion at the moment and here again, the moderate wing and the ultra wing of the party are tearing themselves apart. But the Republicans, under the pressure of their outraged voters, are ready to do anything to get a reform passed, any reform. One thing is certain, companies and the highest incomes should be the main beneficiaries.
Diplomacy
Russia, Iran, China ... Trump had promised to become Vladimir Putin's best friend, to cancel "the worst nuclear deal ever" with Iran, and to bend China to reduce the trade deficit with the United States. In the end, behind the inflammatory statements, his foreign policy closely resembles that of Barack Obama. The United States is at odds with Moscow, the agreement with Iran is still in place, and we are avoiding getting angry with Beijing, which we need, especially in the crisis with North Korea.
Treaties
Upon his arrival, Trump withdrew from the TPP, a proposed trade treaty with Asia. He also threatened to withdraw from the Nafta, a trade agreement with Mexico and Canada, and impose tariffs of 35%. Which would be a disaster for all the American factories that have relocated. For now, the three countries are still negotiating.
