As the Trump administration marked its 100th day in office, the White House celebrated with a bold social media campaign titled "100 Days of WINNING," showcasing photos and touting achievements under its "America First" agenda. Yet, beneath the fanfare, polls and policy outcomes reveal a starkly divided narrative of triumphs and turbulence.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on April 29 highlighted a dramatic plunge in public confidence, with Trump's economic approval rating hitting a record low of 36%. Critics argue his fiscal strategy, a mix of aggressive cost-cutting and controversial revenue schemes, resembles "robbing Peter to pay Paul." The administration's "Trump Gold Card" program, offering wealthy foreigners citizenship for $5 million, faced sharp scrutiny.
British media commentator Jerry Grey dismissed the plan as an "ill-conceived idea," adding, "Congress might say, 'That's not what's gonna happen at all'" due to existing tax laws requiring global income reporting. Meanwhile, unfulfilled tax cuts for 95 million middle-class households deepened skepticism.
Drastic cuts to agencies like the $50 billion-budgeted USAID and the Department of Education drew ire. Nathan Selove, a scholar at James Madison University, warned: "By pulling funding from international organizations, the U.S. risks losing global trust. They're not gonna trust us anymore."
Trade wars escalated with tariffs up to 245% on Chinese goods, framed by Trump as ending "unfair treatment." However, Nobel laureate James Heckman condemned the strategy: "Trump's ignorant interpretation of the economy substitutes real problems with trade wars. This is Machiavelli's playbook—diverting attention from domestic issues by starting a trade war."
In a stark pivot, Trump reversed his 2021 dismissal of Bitcoin as a "scam," embracing deregulation. Grey criticized this shift: "Deregulating Bitcoin repeats America's past mistakes—global crises were caused by U.S. deregulation." Meanwhile, Trump's March 9 social media post urging followers to "BUY!!!" coincided with a $415 million personal wealth spike, prompting insider trading allegations. Grey cautioned: "A president shouldn't advise supporters on stock trades. He's exploiting his power."
While the White House frames these 100 days as a launchpad for renewed dominance, global observers see gathering storms. Selove warned of "a very long four years" if Trump continues circumventing checks and balances. Anthony Moretti, a communications professor, noted Trump's "bullying nature" risks alienating allies, pushing nations toward "stability and friendship elsewhere."
As the "100-day carnival" concludes, the world watches warily. For supporters, it's bold reform; for critics, a trail of pitfalls. The question lingers: Triumphs or crises? Only time will tell.
Reporter: Guo Zedong, Zhang Ruijun
Text: Guo Zedong
Script: Guo Zedong
Video: Guo Hongda
Voice-over: Xie Hongzhou
Poster: Lai Meiya
Editor: Yuan Zixiang, James, Shen He
