Donald Trump returned to office for a second term as U.S. President on January 20, 2025, marking a year defined by aggressive executive action, hardline domestic policies and a recalibration of America’s global role.
In his first year back in the Oval Office, Trump pushed through sweeping changes on immigration, trade, governance, climate policy and foreign affairs. From the outset, the administration moved rapidly. Trump signed 26 executive orders on his first day in office and went on to issue a total of 228 orders by January 20, 2026, underscoring a presidency driven heavily by executive authority.
Executive Action
Between January 20, 2025, and January 20, 2026, Trump signed 228 executive orders, making unilateral action a defining feature of his second term’s opening year.
Immigration Crackdown
Immigration enforcement emerged as a central pillar of policy. Over the year, the administration stripped an estimated 1.6 million people of legal immigration status, deported around 605,000 individuals and detained 66,886 people through Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Arrests averaged 821 per day, while immigration from 75 countries was banned.
Trade and Tariffs
The administration imposed wide-ranging tariffs on foreign goods, reshaping global trade dynamics. The measures raised costs for U.S. households while generating significant revenue for the government, with China and other major trading partners among the most affected.
Federal Workforce and Governance
Trump oversaw major changes within the federal government, including the closure of all Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) offices and the elimination of approximately 317,000 federal jobs during the year.
Foreign Engagement
Despite an “America First” approach, Trump maintained an active international travel schedule, visiting 13 countries, including Italy, Vatican City, Saudi Arabia, Qatar (twice), the UAE, Canada, the Netherlands, the UK (twice), Israel, Egypt, Malaysia, Japan and South Korea.
Military Operations
The U.S. authorised more than 658 air and drone strikes across eight countries — Iraq, Somalia, Iran, Yemen, Syria, Nigeria and Venezuela — largely under U.S.-led coalition operations.
Climate and Environmental Policy
Environmental protections were rolled back significantly. The administration withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement, reversed more than 30 climate-related executive orders issued under President Joe Biden, and opened about 2.5 million square kilometres of ocean for offshore drilling.
Taken together, Trump’s first year of his second term marked a sharp consolidation of executive power and a decisive shift in both domestic governance and U.S. engagement with the world.
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