This became a milestone during FDR’s time in office. Rating presidents is sort of a hobby with historians. I am nothing of the kind, but for what it’s worth, I rank George Washington the best of the 18th Century, Abraham Lincoln of the 19th, and Franklin Roosevelt of the 20th. It is Roosevelt who popularized the “first hundred days”, and set the standard, as it were.
Donald Trump has just completed this period of his second term. Whereas FDR arguably saved our bacon during this time, Trump has wielded a wrecking ball. However you choose to look at it, he has caused untold suffering among his de facto governing partners in the civil service. He would never characterize them in this fashion, of course, but it is what it is.
Let’s look at some lowlights, starting with economics. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 43,487 on the last day of Biden’s term. One hundred days later: 40,227. How’s your retirement nest egg doing?
Let’s flood the zone with tariffs. This Wharton School MBA doesn’t get it. The American consumer pays the tariff. Further, the inconsistency by which they are imposed, then removed, then reimposed, causes confusion, making it all but impossible for businesses to plan. As usual, if you know the right people, and are too big to fail, carve-outs are provided. What about the rest of us?
Doris Kearns Goodwin once described Lincoln’s cabinet as a Team of Rivals. Trump’s crew is, at best, a Team of Toadys. In a Washington Post op-ed (May 4, 2025), VP Vance described this bunch as “world class”, including SECDEF Hegseth, who can’t seem to assemble a group of observers for briefings who are cleared to receive battle plans.
Have we managed to deport a million or so dangerous illegals? Don’t think so. We have, however, managed to rid this country of a father of small children who the White House admits was sent to El Salvador by mistake. Trump says he can get him back, after saying he couldn’t – you gotta be kidding! Rather than photoshop M S 1 3 on pictures of his fingertips, couldn’t we get him back and try due process the old fashioned way? The Supreme Court, unfortunately, has no means of enforcement of its decisions. Never needed them before, but times change, after all.
Meanwhile, POTUS seems to have enhanced his wealth by selling cryptocurrency and other forms of merchandise. It’s what he does. I know, I know, U.S. presidents usually leave office richer (there are exceptions: Mr. President, you’re no Harry Truman), but Trump has run the table much more than most. Not to mention Get Out of Jail Free. Do some of these schemes amount to corruption? Who am I to say?
Then we have the Art of the Deal. Deal making, Soviet style, seems the polar opposite of the “Art”. Boy, did Putin see this one coming. I’m only sorry that Ukraine seems to be the latest victim. Unfortunately, Zelenskyy has rubbed Trump the wrong way. No coming back from that.
Looks like a long four years. I’m sure the Dems will give impeachment/conviction the ol’college try, assuming they get both houses back. Even if this were to be successful, we’ed still end up with Vance (I even look forward to a new motto: Take a Chance with Vance) – oops, sorry about that!
Rogernarc 