How has the Trump Trust and Family Benefited from the Presidency?

There have been multiple investigations and reports that estimate the Trump family earned billions of dollars during Trump’s first presidency and during the first year of his second presidency.  That is far beyond what previous presidents or their families have ever accrued while in office.  The New Yorker analysis reported that the family made approximately $3.4 billion across Trump’s tenure. This includes billions of dollars from cryptocurrency ventures, $339.6 million from financial ventures, $270.8 million from hospitality, $116 million from media, and $277.7 million from other sources such as private jet rentals, legal fees, and merchandise.   These figures reflect a dramatic expansion of the Trump brand’s monetization during his time in office.

Reports from the Associated Press describe Trump’s second term as marked by unprecedented use of presidential power to generate profits for family enterprises.  For example, cryptocurrency ventures tied to Trump or his family pulled in hundreds of millions.  Foreign governments, billionaires, and crypto tycoons with interests being considered by the U.S. government, funneled money into Trump‑linked businesses. Trump’s children pursued global development deals, including projects in the Middle East and Albania. And Melania Trump secured a $40 million documentary deal with Amazon.  Experts quoted in the reporting describe this as a level of self‑enrichment “totally not normal” for a U.S. president.

A detailed breakdown from The Hill shows how Trump’s children (even grandchildren) capitalized on the presidency.  Kia Trump (Don Jr’s daughter) launched a high‑priced fashion line using the Trump brand.  Barron Trump earned $150 million through the family’s crypto venture, World Liberty Financial, and is positioned for future corporate influence (e.g., a potential TikTok board seat).  Eric Trump became a major crypto figure, co‑founding World Liberty Financial and helping generate over $1 billion in crypto‑related revenue for the family.  Forbes estimated Trump’s personal net worth of over $7.1 billion, grew from $2.3 billion (2024).  This reflects a presidency intertwined with private business in ways not seen in modern U.S. history.

Although Trump placed his assets into a trust during his first term, the trust was revocable (meaning Trump could withdraw funds at any time).  The trust is managed by his sons, who were simultaneously expanding Trump organization ventures.  The trust is nota blind trust, whichallows Trump to remain aware of and benefit from business activities.  The trust structure did not prevent Trump or his family from profiting from presidential influence.

The scale and openness of the Trump family’s financial gains during the presidency represent an historic departure from traditional presidential ethics norms.  The practice blurs the lines between public office and private enrichment.  The practices establish a model of governance where policy, branding, and business interests are deeply intertwined.  Whether one views this as savvy entrepreneurship or a profound conflict of interest depends on political perspective, but the financial outcomes are well‑documented.

The most dramatic shift in Trump‑family enrichment came from the crypto system, which expanded rapidly during Trump’s second term.  Trump publicly championed crypto, earning the nickname “Crypto President.”  Trump urged Congress to pass the GENIUS Act, which eases U.S. restrictions on stablecoin (crypto) operations.  After advocating for the bill, the Trump family’s crypto company began issuing its own stablecoin, becoming one of the largest issuers globally.  This created a direct conflict: presidential advocacy, then regulatory change, followed by private profit.  

Stablecoins are extremely profitable because issuers invest in customer deposits and keep the yield. This meant the Trump family captured the interest generated on billions in deposits.  Trump’s second term saw the resumption of foreign licensing deals, including in geopolitically sensitive regions such as Qatar and Vietnam. These deals involved sovereign wealth funds and state-linked developers, raising renewed emoluments concerns.

Trump properties — hotels, golf clubs, resorts — became centers of political activity, generating revenue from political committees, lobbyists, foreign delegations, administration officials, and Republican donors.  The presidency turned Trump hotels into pay-to-be-seen venues, where spending money at a Trump property became a way to signal loyalty or seek influence. This was a continuation of first-term patterns but on a larger scale.

The Trump brand became a commercial engine, with revenue from merchandise, media ventures, paid appearances, licensing deals, private jet rentals, and digital products (NFTs, tokens, etc.).  The presidency amplified the Trump brand’s reach, enabling the family to monetize political identity at unprecedented scale. Various media sources including the New Yorker, CNN, and Public Citizen have described this as the “merchandise machine” in varying printed words.

The most striking theme is the collapse of boundaries between public offices and private business.  The presidency itself became a marketing tool with executive actions, public statements, legislative advocacy, and regulatory positions.  All serve to increase the value of Trump-owned assets, especially in crypto and media. This is described as the “conspicuous integration of federal power, personal branding, and private profit.”

Across all sources, the pattern is consistent.  Presidential power amplified the Trump brand, and the Trump brand generated unprecedented private profit.  The mechanisms were not subtle: they were structural, intentional, and integrated into governance itself.  In summary, the Trump presidency has gone far beyond institution norms and ethical guardrails. 

Donald Trump’s Promises, Continued

Health services

Leave Social Security and Medicare unchanged

What has Trump done with Medicare?  The Trump administration’s second-term policy focuses on deregulation and structural reforms aimed at cost reduction. The program emphasizes protecting core Medicare benefits, with a commitment to maintaining current eligibility ages and premium structures. In 2025, over 67 million people were enrolled in Medicare (including both original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans).  That number is expected to grow to 68 or 69 million over the next few years.  Medicare spending reached approximately $1.1 trillion in 2024 (the most current data), accounting for about 21% of total national health expenditures and roughly 12-14% of federal spending in recent years (Kaiser Foundation).

Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) lowers costs for seniors. The current law excludes anyone in the U.S. from unlawfully receiving Medicare benefits. The law states that to be eligible to enroll in Medicare as a retiree, you must be 65, have worked for at least 10 years, and be either a U.S. citizen or have been a permanent resident of the U.S. for at least five consecutive years.  Trump’s OBBBeliminatedMedicare eligibility for some immigrants, including refugees, asylum seekers, and those with Temporary Protected Status. The work and age requirements are unchanged.

The fulfillment of two finalized rules that would have made it easier for very low-income Medicare enrollees to access Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) has been delayed until October 1, 2034. 

Expansion of the drug price negotiation program

In May, the Trump administration announced an expansion of the Inflation Reduction Act’s drug price negotiation program to include Medicare Part B drugs for the first time. This action added to Trump’s earlier efforts to negotiate drug prices during his first term.  The Trump administration moved forward with expanding Medicare and Medicaid coverage for obesity treatments– specifically GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Rybelsus, when used for chronic weight management in obese patients.

The changes emerged through a series of November–December 2025 announcements, such as:

  • negotiated “most-favored-nation” pricing dealing with drug manufacturers (slashing costs by up to 80%)
  • enabling coverage under new voluntary payment models like the Guarding U.S. Medicare Against Rising Drug Costs (GUARD) model for Part D
  • a similar “Weight-Loss Drug Coverage Model” for Medicare and Medicaid. 

The stated objective is to initially cover around 10% of Medicare beneficiaries while also controlling federal spending. Central Management Services (CMS) has begun implementing these through the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program (MFP), with negotiated prices recently announced for select GLP-1 drugs.

Beyond GLP-1s, the CMS has continued the Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, with Maximum Fair Prices for the first ten selected Part D drugs — Eliquis, Jardiance, Xarelto, Januvia, Farxiga, Entresto, Enbrel, Imbruvica, Stelara, and certain insulins — with projected savings of $6 billion annually for Medicare and $1.5 billion in beneficiary out-of-pocket costs.

The Trump administration has also advanced Most-Favored-Nation pricing through voluntary models from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), including the GENEROUS Model and the proposed GLOBE Model. Launched in January 2026, the GENEROUS Model creates Medicaid supplemental rebates for certain Part B drugs like cancer therapies. The GLOBE Model, with a proposed launch in October 2026, will impose rebates if U.S. prices exceed those of global competitors.

These efforts coordinate with reduced prices via the TrumpRx.gov platform, launched in early 2026. The platform doesn’t sell drugs but instead connects patients to discounted most-favored-nation rates from participating manufacturers.  TrumpRX is only available to those not covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance (about 8% of the nation’s population).

Medicare Premiums and Programs

In 2026, Medicare beneficiaries saw an increase in their monthly Part B premiums to $202.90 (up from $185), a higher Part D deductible of $615 (up from $590), and a rise in the Part D out-of-pocket cost cap to $2,100. Other changes include potential reductions in negotiated drug prices, stricter rules for extra benefits in Medicare Advantage plans, and the introduction of enhanced security measures.

Stricter rulesfor Medicare Advantageplans mean fewer extra benefits for Medicare beneficiaries as plans face tighter spending restrictions. Perks such as grocery cards and transportation have been cut from many Advantage programs.  Free dental, vision, and gym memberships have also been curtailed.

Medicaid

Although not directly related to Medicare, it’s worth mentioning that Medicaid, the state and federal program that provides health coverage for millions of low-income Americans (about 23% of the U.S. population), was at center stage in Congress’s bid to pass Trump’s sweeping agenda.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB)—which Trump signed into law on July 4, 2025, includes cuts to Medicaid of almost $1 trillion over the next 10 years. As a result, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that 11.8 million Americans may lose their health insurance.

Work reporting requirements are also among the changes.  These changes, which are effective January 1, 2027, require that workers document at least 80 hours per month of qualifying activities (work related or community service).  Those over 65 are exempt, as are veterans with disabilities and caregivers of young and disabled dependents.

Medicare Advantage payment boost

Initially, the government payments to Medicare Advantage plans were expected to increase by an average of 5.06% for 2026.  This week President Trump announced that he would not increase the government payments for Medicare Advantage plans.  The Kaiser Foundation warns that this policy will likely cause providers to leave the plan. To maintain profits, insurance companies will need to cut additional benefits, and are likely to require more pre-approval of procedures.

Rural health investments

OBBB created the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program. CMS awarded funds in early 2026 to modernize rural health care, directly benefiting Medicare beneficiaries in designated rural areas  (Kathryn Pomroy , Kiplinger).  As of January 2026, states were given 52 days to pull together applications and outline how they would use the funding to improve outcomes, grow the rural health care workforce, and drive innovation.

Each state is guaranteed $100 million a year over the next five years. The rest of the money was awarded based on a series of factors — including how rural a state is, what states propose to do with the money, and whether the states adopt policies aligned with the administration’s Make America Healthy Again priorities.

There’s bipartisan excitement about rural health finally getting some attention and investment. However, Democrats and many health policy experts argue, that this temporary $50 billion infusion pales in comparison to the roughly $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and Obamacare, also passed by Congress last year.

Keep the Social Security retirement age unchanged

Trump has been consistent in his written platforms and in public remarks regarding this promise.  

Either the government pay for, or requires insurers to pay for, in vitro fertilization treatment

Trump has billed himself as the “fertilization president.”  Trump’s administration issued guidance that would allow employers to offer IVF coverage as a benefit as part of company insurance plans.  The updated guidance would make opting in to fertility benefits like opting in for dental or vision benefits as part of an employer’s insurance plan. The guidance does not require employers to offer a fertility benefit.  Premium costs for any fertility benefit would be dependent on a specific employer’s contributions, and which benefits the company and insurer offers. 

In addition, Trump announced an agreement intended to lower the cost of a popular fertility drug.  His administration reached an agreement with EMD Serono to offer its fertility drugs, including Gonal-F, as part of a “most favored nation” plan that stipulates that certain medications cannot be sold to Americans for more than the highest price overseas. 

As of February 2026, Senator Tammy Duckworth claims that she has worked tirelessly to pass legislation ensuring coverage for IVF, but Republicans have blocked her efforts again.  If Trump really supports expanding IVF access — which he’s shouted from the rooftops but done virtually nothing meaningful to accomplish — this should be a no-brainer. He can and should expand IVF coverage to all federal workers now.

Give a tax credit for family caregivers who take care of a parent or a loved one

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the Caregiver Tax Credit bill (also know as the OBBB), which provides a non-refundable tax credit that reduces your income tax.  To qualify you must be an individual who provides care for a spouse, common-law partner, or a dependent person with physical or mental impairment. 

Create a presidential task force to investigate the rise in chronic health problems, including autism, autoimmune disorders, and obesity

President Trump established the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission to investigate the rise in chronic health problems, including autism, autoimmune disorders, and obesity.  Robert F. Kennedy Jr. chairs the commission.  Kennedy’s objectives have been covered extensively by the media.  

Conclusions

There has been much activity in some of these areas.  President Trump is keeping his promise and has not raised the social security eligibility age.  He has developed programs to tackle drug pricing and has provided a tax credit for caregivers.  However, his drug pricing programs, while politically noteworthy, do not solve the problems.  His promise to boost the Medicare Advantage program is now on hold.  His decision to keep the program payments steady is NOT a boost.  The rollout of TrumpRX makes for great press, but it is only a “drop in the bucket.”

America: How Does a Diverse Population Remain United?

What does it mean to say, “I’m an American”?  The makeup of America today is very different compared to 50 years ago.  The total population is over 340 million. Over 16 million are veterans.  We are far removed from the patriots who fought for independence from England.  However, many of the issues that were faced in 1776 remain with us in 2026.  Many of the conflicts between Americans trying to shape a new nation in 1776 remain with us today.

The population in 2026 is diverse and growing slowly in numbers.  Over 83% of Americans live in an urban setting, the inverse of the 1776 United States population.  Many live in cities in coastal states.  There are just under 150 million housing units.  The median home cost is $332,000, with median monthly rent at $1,413.  The median household income is $80,700.  Approximately 10% of Americans live in poverty.

While we still have a relatively young population with a median age of 38.7 years, we are aging.  Only 5.5% of us are under 5 years of age.   Our life expectancy is 78 years with women still outliving men.

While we are still a society dominated by Caucasians at 74.8%, the percentage of Blacks is 13.7% and slowing increasing, as is the percentage of Hispanics at 20%.  Interestingly, just over 14% of the population is foreign born.  In 1776, 60% of Americans were of English descent, which means 40% of the population came from other countries.  Even more interesting is the fact that 21% of the population was black but only 2.5% were slaves.  (We are not even considering Native Americans in this picture!)

Over the past 250 years, racism has been a series of evolving systems that keep reappearing in new forms. The targets, laws, and language change, but the core pattern is the same.  There was a racial hierarchy built to give white people an advantage, and place Black people, Native people, and other communities of color in lesser roles.  There were resistance and progress by reformers at every stage.  Over 250 years, racism in the U.S. is the story of a racial hierarchy built into law, economy, and culture, repeatedly challenged by those it harms. Each time one version is defeated (e.g. slavery, Jim Crow), another version (e.g. segregation, mass incarceration, and structural inequality) emerges alongside ongoing resistance. 

From the late 20th century to today (1970s–2020s) racism shifted into systems rather than explicit laws. The best examples include redlining’s legacy in housing and wealth, school funding gaps, hiring discrimination, and the criminal legal system (e.g., war on drugs, mass incarceration, and policing practices). At the same time, there has been real progress.  Growing political representation, cultural visibility, legal protections, and organized movements (e.g., Black Power and Black Lives Matter) continue to force the country to confront its shameful history and present situation.

The entire history of the U.S. has been a running debate over who gets to make the decisions on slavery, civil rights, the economy, and social policy– states or the federal government. The balance keeps shifting, usually toward federal power when national crises or rights conflicts peak, and back toward states when there are backlashes or decentralizing trends.

Over 250 years, the conflict has not been just abstract theory. It is about whose rules govern people’s lives.  States’ rights arguments have often been used to defend local control over slavery, segregation, and restrictive social policies, but also to experiment with policy innovation and resistance to overbroad national mandates.  Federal supremacy has often been the tool for enforcing civil rights, regulating a national economy, and maintaining a unified legal order, but also for centralizing power and sometimes overriding local democratic choices.

Today, the conflict over race, religion, sex practices/gender, federal executive power, and states’ rights continues.  There is no single picture of a typical American.  There are liberals, conservatives, libertarians, socialists, communists, Nazis, MAGAs, and QANONs.  There are those who are ultra-rich, rich, middle income, lower income, and those who have virtually no income.  There are Muslims, Catholics, Baptists, mainstream Protestants, agnostics, deists, and atheists.  There are whites, blacks, Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans.  The variety in American values is vast and not easily described.   The current political scene, as it always has been, is a result of this diversity.  President Washington, in his farewell address, expressed his concern over the development of alliances that might disrupt the young nation’s unity.

If we are so different, what unites Americans?   Consider how the founding fathers reached common ground.  Federalists had to compromise with states’ rights advocates.  Southern plantation owners with slaves had to find common ground with Boston and New York businessmen. Despite their differences, they found common ground and established a republic.  The Constitution is a legal document/agreement among states and individuals with different opinions and goals.  In order to pass the Constitution, ten amendments were required.  These ten amendments were called the Bill of Rights.  The Constitution and Bill of Rights contain the rules that Americans have chosen to live by.  Over time, these rules sometimes needed clarification to keep up with a rapidly changing country. 

The strength of this document has been tested many times since 1776.  The Jacksonian era put many Constitutional issues to the test.  The Civil War nearly ended the “great experiment.”  The Gilded Age saw wealthy robber barons come close to creating an oligarchy.  The Wall Street Putsch of 1933 (Millionaires’ Rebellion) might have succeeded if weren’t for a “whistle blower”.  Today, the Christian nationalist movement has created a new crisis, or perhaps renewed an old one, and people like our president and many in the Republican Party have taken advantage of the sense that somehow America has lost its moral soul and greatness.

Given the turmoil of the past decade, Americans need to put their trust in the Constitution and our Bill of Rights.  We must all insist on a rule of law, not a rule of centralized government that seeks to erode, if not eliminate, the foundation that makes it possible for such a diverse population to live together.  We the People need to take control of our republic and make Congress, the Courts, and the Executive Branch our representatives again.  I urge you to campaign for the candidates that represent your values, then vote.

Trump’s Promises Continued:

Foreign Policy and the Military

Another area where President Trump promised big changes was in foreign policy and our military.  His goal was to make the world safe from foreign powers who are seeking to exploit our nation.  He has said, “We need to protect our national interests around the globe.” 

End the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours

Trump has been less supportive than the Biden-Harris administration in backing Ukraine against Russia (which launched an invasion in 2022). Trump did not detail his plan, but even Russian officials expressed skepticism that this could be achieved.  As of this writing, a year has passed and the war continues.  There have been moments where the Trump administration has suggested that a peace agreement or temporary truce was in the offing.  So far, neither has occurred.  The latest initiative has come from the Russians, proposing that Zelinski travel to Moscow for peace talks.  Trilateral peace talks continue as this article is posted.  Meanwhile, drone attacks continue and on the ground fighting in the east has not lessened.

Target Chinese ownership of U.S. vital infrastructures

As reported by AP in December 2025, the Trump administration may have softened its language on China in order to maintain a fragile truce in their trade war.  However,  Congress has moved ahead with more restrictions in a defense authorization bill that would deny Beijing investments in highly sensitive sectors and reduce U.S. reliance on Chinese biotechnology companies.  The December 2025 bill, as amended by the Senate, also prohibited government money from being used for equipment and services from blacklisted Chinese biotechnology companies.  The compromise bill authorizing $900 billion for military programs was released two days after the White House unveiled its national security strategy.

The Trump administration dropped Biden-era language that cast China as a strategic threat.   An administration spokesperson said the U.S. “will rebalance America’s economic relationship with China.” This is an indication that President Trump is more interested in a mutually advantageous economic relationship with Beijing than in long-term competition.  For example, Trump has allowed Nvidia (a computer chip manufacturer)  to sell an advanced type of computer chip to China  Those more hawkish Congressman are concerned that this will help Beijing boost the country’s artificial intelligence. “Whatever the White House says about limiting Chinese investments in our infrastructure, Capitol Hill is locking in a hard-edged, long-term competition with Beijing,” said Craig Singleton, senior director of the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank.

Hold China financially responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic

While there was a great deal of talk about holding China responsible for the COVID pandemic, there has been little action on this 2025 promise.  Repeated investigations have failed to show any Chinese culpability.

Partner with businesses and universities to help them protect against Chinese surveillance and cyber-attacks

Instead, President Trump has done the opposite of partnering with universities.  He has attacked many Ivy League and top universities for DEI initiatives, threatening to withhold federal dollars or even legal actions.  His work with businesses is presented in the earlier discussion on China ownership.

Construct an Iron Dome-like missile defense system for the U.S.

The U.S. has been a leader in creating anti-missile technology.  The 2011 Iron Dome has protected Israel from airborne attacks on numerous occasions. But experts say the threats to Israel are different than those facing the United States, making the Iron Dome a less obvious solution for the U.S.  The president vowed to build a Golden Dome missile defense shield for the country in three years. It’s nowhere close to being done.  One year and billions of appropriated dollars later, his “Golden Dome” dream is no closer to reality.  The Pentagon hasn’t started rolling out the vast network of sensors and interceptors due to the project’s complexity. According to two industry insiders and two former defense officials, the White House has yet to release the billions Congress appropriated to build the architecture. And that means the defense industry hasn’t been able to start working in earnest.

Provide record-breaking military funding

Although Trump has touted that he did not launch a war during his first term, this promise expresses support for generous military funding.  President Trump declared that he would ask Congress for a $1.5 trillion defense budget in 2027, a massive $500 billion increase from this year’s Pentagon budget.

The huge boost reflects how expensive some of Trump’s military ambitions are, from the Golden Dome air defense effort to his call for a new battleship design. Neither of those programs could be fully funded under current spending levels.  While finding a half trillion dollars in new spending would prove difficult, Trump and some congressional Republicans appeared confident they could do so. The budget reached $1 trillion this year, thanks to $150 billion in new money Congress voted to pour into Pentagon coffers, via a reconciliation bill.

Withdraw from the World Health Organization

Trump criticized the WHO for its perceived closeness to China, which he said compromised its advice on the coronavirus and its investigations of the pandemic.  In January 2026, the United States completed the legal withdrawal process, thus ending its membership, governance participation, and funding contributions.  Experts are raising concerns about the short- and long-term implications for public health in the U.S. and abroad. “The WHO continues to serve as a very critical traffic control and public health response organization for the world,” says Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. “We in the U.S. don’t experience many of the infectious diseases we see around the world, in large part because they are stopped in these countries, oftentimes through the support and coordination of the WHO. Funding the WHO is about investing in our own health here in this country.” (Time)

Summary/Conclusion

President Trump did increase military spending in his One Big Beautiful Bill and has asked for double that budgeted amount for 2027.  His support for renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War has many Americans concerned.  His “arrest” of President Maduro of Venezuela has increased tensions in the Caribbean. Cuba and Columbia are in his sights.   He has made remarks about sending troops into Mexico and making Canada the 51st state.  His rhetoric regarding acquiring Greenland has fractured our relationship with Denmark and other NATO nations.   

He has successfully withdrawn America from WHO, but at what cost to world health?  His ability to deliver on his other promises is questionable.  The Golden Dome project is not on schedule.  He has not been able to hold China accountable for the COVID pandemic.  He could not end the Ukraine Russian war in 24 hours.  His policy toward Chinese investments in America is “rebalancing.”  He has failed to fulfill 5 out of 7 promises.  Not only has he failed to deliver on 5 of his promises, he has not protected our global interests.  Instead, America has fewer friends!

Trumps Promises, continued: The Economy

President Trump made the following promises regarding the economy as he campaigned for office in 2024 and followed through with varying degrees.

Tariff Promises

President Trump said he would add a tariff of 10% to 20% to all nondomestic goods sold in America.  He imposed the tariff at 10%.  This tariff remains in place in almost every country in the world.  He also said he would add a 60% tariff on goods from China.  In March, in addition to the already levied 10%, Trump placed an additional 10% tariff. China responded with additional tariffs of up to 15% on imports of key U.S. farm products, including chicken, pork, soy and beef, and expanded controls on doing business with key U.S. companies.  Trump retaliated with his so-called tariff “Liberation Day,” announcing an additional 34% duties on all Chinese imports.  Thus the current tariff (adding each increase) is just short of 55%.

 Collectively, these three promises continue Trump’s efforts to raise tariffs on foreign goods, especially when foreign countries impose tariffs on the U.S. These foreign nation tariffs are the target of Trump’s reciprocal tariff policy. Independent groups estimated that Trump’s proposed tariffs would cost a typical family between $2,000 and $4,000 a year and some Senate Republicans continue to expressed skepticism about the plan.

Ban U.S. companies from investing in Chinese companies, and ban Chinese companies from investing in U.S. companies

In February, President Donald Trump signed a memorandum that directs the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to restrict Chinese investments in strategic areas. The national security memorandum is aimed at promoting foreign investment while protecting U.S. national security interests from threats posed by foreign adversaries like China. The order says that China is “exploiting our capital and ingenuity to fund and modernize their military, intelligence, and security operations, posing direct threats to United States security,” (Reuters)

The Trump administration softened its language on China to maintain a fragile truce in their trade war, but Congress is charging ahead with more restrictions in a defense authorization bill that would deny Beijing investments in highly sensitive sectors and reduce U.S. reliance on Chinese biotechnology companies.  Included in the 3,000-page bill, approved by the House in December, is a provision to scrutinize American investments in China that could help develop technologies to boost Chinese military power. The bill, which next heads to the Senate, would also prohibit government money from being used for equipment and services from blacklisted Chinese biotechnology companies. (AP)

Adopt a four-year plan to phase out Chinese imports

This promise would expand on policies Trump sought to impose on China during his first presidency. The aim would be to counter China’s influence in the international economy and erase advantages China has over U.S. companies. 

So far, the four-year plan has not been implemented.  However, as noted in the previous section there has been much activity regarding trade, investments, and tariffs.

Provide a “middle class, upper class, lower class, business class, big tax cut.”

According to the Tax Foundation, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that Trump signed into law last summer represents the country’s sixth largest tax cut and is expected to reduce federal tax revenue by $5 trillion from 2025 through 2034.  The tax bill Trump signed in 2017 did lower taxes for all income groups at least initially, but wealthier taxpayers gained disproportionately.

Trump wrote on Truth Social, “Seniors should not pay tax on Social Security.” The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimated that doing this would cost $1.6 trillion to $1.8 trillion over a decade.  There is no provision in the OBBBA that exempts Social Security from federal income taxation. Instead, the bill expands a deduction for seniors—$6,000 for individuals and $12,000 for married couples—which in some cases may incidentally offset the portion of Social Security that would otherwise be taxable.

Ernie Tedeschi, at the Yale Budget Lab, found that 2.5% of workers are in tipped jobs, including 5% of workers in the bottom quarter of earners. Trump was the first to propose the elimination of taxes on tips. Some economists have mixed feelings about whether the benefits to workers would outstrip the cost to the government, and about whether companies would take advantage of the new policy to force more workers into tipped jobs. 

The “no tax on tips” policy allows certain service workers to deduct up to $25,000 of their tip income       from federal taxes, but it does not eliminate all taxes on tips. While eligible workers can deduct tips from their taxable income, they must still report all tips to their employer and IRS.  Tips are still subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes, as well as state taxes.  In addition, not all service workers will qualify for the deduction.  Only those that receive tips “customarily and regularly” in their jobs are eligible.  The policy has sparked discussions with some advocating higher base wages for employees.

This provision allows eligible employees to deduct up to $12,500 of qualified overtime pay from Income taxes for tax years 2025 through 2028.  This does not include salaried employees.  It isn’t the full overtime amount that is deductible; it’s the extra compensation over regular wages. So if you make $20 an hour and $30 in overtime, only that $10-per-hour difference counts. The entire provision sunsets in 2028—though it has a good chance of becoming politically permanent.

Some Americans living abroad pay taxes to both the U.S. and a foreign country, although they can deduct the taxes they paid to the foreign government. Critics suggest that this could incentivize higher-income Americans to move to lower-tax countries overseas and escape U.S. tax liability.  As of January 2026, the IRS is still taxing Americans living overseas. 

Trump’s 2017 tax law previously cut the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. The corporate tax rate remains at 21%.

Trump said he wants to cap credit card interest rates at around 10%. When he made the pledge in September 2024, the typical interest rate for credit card accounts was 22.8%. The typical rate has never been as low as 10%, going back to 1994, when researchers began collecting data on credit card interest rates. Rates briefly went as low as 12% in 2003. Skeptics say banks might counter by tightening standards for who can have cards.  President Trump recently set a January 20, 2026, deadline for banks to comply voluntarily, but most lenders have refused.  He is now urging Congress to pass a one-year federal law to lower the rates to 10%.

It’s unclear how Trump could lower car insurance rates. Auto insurance is regulated primarily at the state level, and insurers still price policies based on risk (your driving record, vehicle, ZIP code, coverage, and claims trends).

Trump revealed this proposal in a speech to the Detroit Economic Club, pitching it to boost the automobile industry. The new 2025 Trump tax law, One Big Beautiful Bill Act, made car loan interest deductible (with qualifications and limits).. Not all car loans qualify for the new tax deduction. It must be for a new car assembled in the U.S, not for a used car. It must be for personal use, not a commercial vehicle.

Trump made this promise after Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton struck. However, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) does not consider a whole house generator a standard home expense that qualifies for a tax deduction. In most cases, home improvements and appliance installations are considered personal expenses, which means they are not deductible unless they fall into specific categories recognized by the IRS.

However, a generator may qualify for tax benefits under the following conditions:

  1. Medical necessity – If the generator is essential for powering medical equipment, it may be deductible as a medical expense.
  2. Business use – If the generator is used to support a home-based business, a portion of the cost may qualify as a business expense.
  3. Rental property depreciation – Landlords who install a generator in a rental property may be able to claim depreciation on their tax returns.
  4. Energy efficiency programs – While whole house generators do not qualify for federal energy tax credits, some state and local incentives may apply.
  5. Restore the state and local tax deduction (SALT)

Trump’s 2017 tax law capped the amount taxpayers can deduct for state and local taxes on their federal tax returns at $10,000. This irritated affluent suburbanites in blue states, where state and local taxes tend to be high. Trump promised to reverse his action on the deduction before a rally on New York’s Long Island, which is home to many such taxpayers. Trump wrote that he would “get SALT (State and Local Tax) back.”  The irony is that the cap was legislatively set to expire in 2025.  The OBBBA legislation implements a five-year sunset for the higher SALT cap amount $31,500 (cap reverts to $10,000 in 2030 for all taxpayers) and contains loopholes for some business owners in states that permit them.

Stop China from buying land in the U.S.

As of 2021, Chinese investors, entities and U.S. corporations with Chinese shareholders collectively owned 383,935 acres of agricultural and nonagricultural land in the United States,. It is unclear how many of these acres are controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. An expert told PolitiFact that although the Chinese Communist Party could influence or coerce Chinese people or entities to use farmlands for spying or other purposes, there hasn’t been any evidence of such activity. In July 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins said that the department would no longer allow “Chinese nationals” and other foreign adversaries to purchase farmland in the United States.

Create “freedom cities”

Trump said he would hold a “national contest to charter as many as 10 new cities on a very small portion of federal land and award these charters to the best ideas and proposals for development.” Trump billed this contest to boost U.S. industry and build fast-growing cities from scratch. The plan aims to “reopen the frontier and reignite American imagination.  The projects would give hundreds of thousands of young people, and hardworking families, a new shot at home ownership, and achieve the American Dream.” He said the land would not infringe on national parks or other “natural treasures.”  While an interesting concept, with some interest from independent developers, this idea has yet to be initiated.

Create “baby bonuses” for young parents

Trump didn’t specify how his idea would work, but Democrats have previously supported “baby bonus” proposals, so this would be an area for bipartisan cooperation.  A provision of Trump’s tax legislation, Trump Accounts are meant to give $1,000 to every newborn, so long as their parents open an account. That money is then invested in the stock market by private firms, and the child can access the money when they turn 18.

The Trump Accounts initiative is a new savings tool designed to help children in America start savings.    Here’s what you need to know about the Trump Accounts for kids. The program is for children born after January 1, 2025, and ends on December 31, 2028.  The child must have a Social Security number.  The federal government will provide a $1,000 contribution to the account at birth. Parents and others can contribute up to $5,000 per year until the child turns 18.  Employers can contribute up to $2,500 of the $5,000.  The account money will be invested in American corporations.  The account also offers tax advantages like the traditional IRA.

Oppose corporate bailouts

Trump has focused his opposition to government bailouts, such as Silicon Valley Bank, which collapsed during Biden’s presidency.  While there have been no bailouts, the fast pace of monthly US corporate bankruptcies has put 2025 on track to be one of the busiest years for filings in more than a decade.

Conclusions

While there were many promises, few have been successfully initiated.  Tariffs have been imposed on China and many other countries.  The Constitutionality of the President’s orders in this area is still to be evaluated by the Supreme Court.  The international turmoil of the tariffs has caused chaos.  His promises regarding taxes have been implemented but are not as they seem.  However, his promise to stop China from buying US land has been implemented according to USDA Secretary Rollins.

Save America

One person’s opinion

Updated from an earlier post

There are many Americans across the political spectrum who believe that America has reached a crossroad.  The recent events in Minneapolis have resulted in two deaths.  The Trump administration is blaming Democrats.  The mass of protesting people blame the harsh tactics of the Trump administration in enforcing immigration laws.   Liberals and conservatives cannot agree on policy direction.  Should we focus on humanitarian issues such as right to free speech, freedom of assembly, and other Constitutional rights, or should we focus on making America great by removing immigrants who, some believe, threaten the American way of life.  Should we work on building our economic strength and hope for the trickle-down effect that Reaganomics promised?  Unfortunately, too many Americans fall into this dichotomy, failing to recognize all the options that exists between these two extremes.  The most unfortunate result of the focus on this dichotomy is that the real issues that Americans face are not debated.

In 2025, with the success of the MAGA movement in gaining political control, the promises of greater opportunity, prosperity, and a return to “true” American values appeared to be on the horizon for those who believed in the MAGA movement.  Yet, after only one year in office for President Trump, the prospect of a better America that he promised seems elusive.  Many middle- and lower-class Americans have experienced the cost of food and everyday living  soaring.  The Trump administration appears to be at odds with itself.  The Secretary of Homeland Security and Steven Miller are at odds over the Minneapolis shootings. Top Pentagon officials have resigned over the way that the Secretary of Defense has handled a variety of issues, including the “arrest” in Venezuela. The courts are being attacked for their stand on issues that many Americans see as Constitutional guarantees.  The Senate, which was established to represent the states, seems to turn a blind eye to the increasing interference of the federal government with states’ rights. Minnesota is currently in the firing line.  California and Illinois also had to deal with the attack on states’ rights.  It also appears that the federal government is attempting to impose the administration’s values on all Americans.  Attacks on private schools, using monetary blackmail, is not in America’s interest.  Cutting federal services with a “chainsaw” has not brought about savings.  Rather, various agencies seem to be falling into an ineffective quagmire due to lack of staff.   Even the polls have turned against President Trump’s handling of almost all issues except for border control.  Today’s polling shows a 56% disapproval rating for the President. 

If it were up to me, how would I go about fixing our now very dysfunctional government?  I would advocate for Impeachment of President Trump.  While not likely to happen given the lack of courage by Republicans in our House of Representatives, I believe an organization’s success or failure starts with the person at the top of the chain of command.  In the case of President Trump, I believe he has failed to show good leadership.  His picks for cabinet members showed little thought for professional competence, instead focusing on personal loyalty.  His attack on the economy has been a disaster.  His establishment of DOGE was a total waste of effort, which has caused serious damage to a functional government (which arguably does need serious reform). 

But since Impeachment is unlikely, and other Constitutional remedies are also out of the picture, I would suggest that the Senate start to focus on doing its job.  It was created as the voice of the states, just as the House was created to be the voice of the American people.  The Senate has, in my opinion, lost sight of this responsibility!  Too often state governors are left with the responsibility of maintaining the states’ rights.  Perhaps it is time to undo the 1913 legislation (17th Amendment) that moved the selection of state senators from the hands of the state legislature to a popular vote, in essence creating another tier of legislators who are now concerned about popular votes rather than the welfare of the states they represent.  In the original design, state legislatures picked their senators.

The people’s chamber is also failing.  Members of the House seem to be more focused on their parties rather than on the concerns of their voters.  There was a time when representatives were picked by their neighbors and served the community.  Many gave up lucrative jobs to serve. Today many representatives view the position as a job, not a service to their voters.  As such, they are often focused on getting reelected to a position that guarantees a good pension after five years.  Campaigning has become a full-time business.  I would suggest that representatives serve at least three years.  Salaries should be commensurate with other local business leaders. (The Current salary is $147,000.)  The guarantees of a retirement salary after five years of service should be stripped away.  Perhaps then representatives would serve their constituents, not monied interests and their political party.

While I have criticized our President and Congress, perhaps the greatest failure has been the apathy of most Americans.  Until the ICE occupations, most Americans have not participated in governing the country that was created as a nation of “We the People.”  When only 2/3 of eligible voters bother to vote in presidential elections, there is a problem.  Worse yet, only 20 – 30% of eligible voters turn out for state and local elections.  To aggravate this problem, most Americans are not casting an “informed” ballot.  Of those that vote, many cast party ballots without careful consideration of the candidates.  It takes effort to know what the issues are and where candidates stand.  Complicating the issue is the problem of knowing which information is accurate!  I believe American education needs to instill a sense of government responsibility in our youth.  In addition, we all need to learn how to recognize “fake news” in contrast to what is factual.  We need to understand what is opinion and what is news.

While it would take years before the effects are realized, we might save this democracy if enough Americans hurt by the policies of the current administration get involved. Americans need to take the time to learn about current government policies, the Constitution, and our history.  This great nation deserves more effort than most have given it.  All Americans need to get involved by calling, emailing or writing their senators and representatives.  The power of the vote might get some Republicans to reconsider their support of President Trump.   Americans need to recover the government of “We the People!”

How Well Are ICE Officers Screened and Trained?

Training

ICE officers receive training that prepares them for various roles within the agency.  There are differences in training length and focus depending on specific duties. Customs Border Patrol (CBP) officers receive more training than the Enforcement Removal Operations officers (ERO).  Both receive less than Homeland Security Investigators (HIS).  Officers receive a mix of classroom instruction, practical skills training, and ongoing field education, with training durations varying significantly between different roles within the agency. 

Prior to January 2025, most ICE recruits attended training at a Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.  The enforcement and Removal operations officers (ERO) had a training program just short of 8 weeks, which focused on operational tasks and safety in high-contact situations.  Most of the training focused on locating, arresting, and removing illegal immigrants who have violated the law.  Customs Border Patrol (CBP) candidates had a 90-day (12 week) academy experience.  Specifically, these officers received training in firearms, driving skills, defensive tactics, and use of force.  The training also included de-escalation techniques.  There was heavy emphasis on immigration law, the Constitution, and criminal investigations.  Officers were required to take a basic Spanish course or test out of the offering.

Unfortunately, the training for the new recruits has been substantially reduced to 47 hours due to the hiring surge needed to carry out Trump’s immigration enforcement policies.  This reduction of hours for ERO officers from 320 to 47 creates an important question regarding officer readiness and public safety, especially in high stakes situations.  The Spanish course was dropped from the curriculum.

Screening

Prior to 2025, background checks and psychological screening were consistent with hiring practices in most municipal departments.  The process generally included a combination of clinical interviews and standardized psychological tests.   

Of concern is the impact of the hiring surge on the level of background and psychological screening. Top of Form

According to multiple sources, ICErecruits are showing up for training with disqualifying criminal backgrounds.  New hires are reportedly failing background checks, drug tests, and open-book tests (Alex Woodward, New York Times). Often times, new recruits are reportedly failing physical fitness requirements.  Some new recruits are entering training programs before the agency performs background checks or finishes a screening process.  ICE officials have discovered that some recruits failed drug testing or had disqualifying criminal backgrounds while they were already enrolled in training.  At least one recruit at the agency’s training academy in Brunswick, Georgia, had been previously charged with strong-arm robbery and battery stemming from a domestic violence incident, according to a Homeland Security official.  Some recruits had not submitted fingerprints or gone through any background checks at all before entering the six-week training course (NBC News).  

“The loosening of hiring standards and training requirements is unacceptable and will likely result in increased officer misconduct — similar to or worse than what occurred during a small surge in hiring U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in the early 2000s,” Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.  He continued, “Exacerbating our concerns, DHS has gutted offices responsible for overseeing ICE officers and ensuring accountability for use-of-force incidents.  Given these developments, greater congressional oversight of ICE’s hiring is essential.”

To boost recruitment, Homeland Security offers a “maximum $50,000 signing bonus” and student loan forgiveness. DHS also dropped age limit requirements, allowing people as young as 18 years old to apply and opening ICE to recruits older than 40 years old (The Atlantic).  Homeland Security deputy secretary Tricia McLaughlin has said that many new recruits are former law enforcement officers who go through a different hiring process.  McLaughlin said the figures in above cited NBC’s report “reflect a subset of candidates in initial basic academy classes.”

How does the training of ICE officers compare to that provided by most police departments in America?

For all municipal police departments, the average duration of training for municipal officers ranges from 4 to 5 months, with an average of 672 hours.  State Police Officer Standards and Training Boards (POST) require anywhere from 12 to 24 weeks.  After graduation from the POST academy, most officer complete months of supervised training by a field training officer.

Most POST academies include the following in their core curriculum:

  • Constitutional & criminal law
  • Arrest/search/seizure procedures
  • Firearms training
  • Defensive tactics
  • Emergency vehicle operations
  • Report writing & courtroom testimony
  • Community policing principles
  • Use of technology (body cameras, digital evidence, databases)

The curriculum is updated regularly to include new laws, changes in technology, and changing police strategies.  The academies also stress training in the use of force, and de-escalation techniques.

ICE Training Compared to Municipal Departments

Prior to January 2025, the training received by ICE ERO officers was closer to that received by municipal police recruits.  However, 320 hours of training, which included instruction on Spanish, was still far below the municipal average of 672 hours.  CBP training was 480 hours at the low end of the municipal training spectrum.  Given the new 47-hour standard for ERO officers, is it any wonder that ICE officers are not performing well?

How the U.S. Compares Internationally

While the training of ICE ERO officers is far below the US municipal average, consider the fact that American police receive far less training than many countries where police training lasts 2–3 years (e.g., Finland, Norway, Germany).  In 1994, an effort by the federal government attempted to increase the training to 2 years by incorporating traditional academy experiences with more classroom study.  However, due to concerns over federal involvement in local police training, the program ended in 2009.  The shorter training period for American police is often cited in debates about police professionalism, use‑of‑force outcomes, and public trust.

Conclusions

ICE ERO officers and CBP officers are NOT trained to deal with police situations or the public when they receive only 47 hours of training.  Even the pre 2025 curriculum for CBP officers (480 hours) does not begin to properly prepare these officers for the job.  The training of the ERO officers is not much more than a citizen in Illinois who gets a firearms permit.  In Illinois, individuals must complete a 16-hour course from an Illinois State Police approved instructor.  The course covers firearm safety, marksmanship, and Illinois firearms laws.

The ERO officers are not qualified to enforce customs laws and certainly not prepared to handle police situations.  The training needs to be improved.  Hiring practices need to be restored to pre-2025 levels.  The current threat to defund ICE operations should be taken as a wakeup call.  The entire organization needs to be reformed.  Officers need more training than they currently receive.

A Hard Look at ICE

Over the past year I have written about immigration, ICE, and other politically charged issues.  I have attempted to keep my opinions to a minimum by looking for the facts.  My life has been shaped by the idea that the truth is only discoverable when you ask questions and look for accurate information.  That’s difficult today where there are so many instant sources, many with less than Walter Cronkite honesty!

The shooting of Alex Pretti by ICE agents yesterday clearly points out the hypocrisy of the Trump administration.  Watch the videos and look at the stills.  The story fabricated by Noem, Bondi, and Bovino can’t begin to defend the actions of these ICE officers.  It is clear that Pretti was observing and recording the actions of ICE agents. He had his cell phone in his hand.  It is clear that an ICE agent pushed a woman into a snow pile.  It is clear that Pretti was attempting to help her up.  It is also clear that as he helped this woman, an ICE agent dispensed spray at Pretti, followed by additional officers taking him to the ground.  Pretti was doing nothing wrong!  He was shot because an overly excited and poorly trained officer likely informed his peers that there was a gun.  There was a gun.  However, the gun was not visible in his hand as claimed by ICE, but in his holster. 

The shooting of Alex Pretti is the fifth deadly shooting by ICE since January.  The killing of Renee Nicole Good was not the first time that federal officers have killed civilians.  Federal officers have fatally shot at least three other people in the last five months. In September, Silverio Villegas González, a father originally from Mexico who worked as a cook, was killed while reportedly trying to flee from officers in a Chicago suburb (WBEZ). In December, a border patrol agent killed a 31-year-old Mexican citizen while trying to detain him in Rio Grande City, Texas. And on New Year’s Eve, an off-duty ICE agent used his service weapon to shoot a man in Los Angeles, California. Authorities mistakenly said the man had raised a rifle at the officer (CBS News).  Agents have also shot other people. The Trace, the nonprofit news organization covering gun violence, has counted more than a dozen such shootings. In some cases, the victims survived, including a woman who suffered multiple bullet wounds in an incident in Chicago in October (Marshall Project).

My examination of media reports points in the direction of an ICE operation that exceeded general mandates.  In a prior post, I noted that the training that ICE officers receive does not prepare them for police work. Several mistakes were made by ICE officers during this Minneapolis confrontation.  While at least some of the officers involved had received more than the 47 hours of training now mandated, the training was in enforcement of ICE mandates, arrests and warrants– not police tactics.  The most significant example of not having proper training is a simple axiom taught in most police academies: TIME + DISTANCE = OPTIONS.  Other mistakes, such as the approach of ICE officers, violate another key point in police training.  DE-ESCALATE THE TENSION in any given situation.  This recent ICE citizen interaction shows ICE escalating the situation, not de-escalating!

To be clear, the entire ICE operation is based on fabricated stories about immigrants.  Immigrants are invading America.  “There are many rapists, killers, and gang members among our immigrants.”  The Trump administration is increasing deportation of these “dangerous” criminals.  The reality of this portion of President Trump’s immigration plan is like many of his proposed operations. It is a show that is harming American citizens and illegal immigrants.  Being an illegal immigrant is not a felony.  It is a misdemeanor punishable with no more than a six-month jail term for the first offense.  Citizens who support the immigrant community have the right to free speech and demonstration. They have a right to life!

While being an illegal immigrant is a misdemeanor crime, President Trump has said that ICE would focus on “the worst of the worst,” those with felony convictions.  Federal officials and DHS communications assert that a large majority of arrests target people with criminal convictions or pending charges (officially cited by DHS as about 70%), However, independent analyses of ICE and detention data finds that roughly three quarters of people held in ICE detention in late 2025 had no criminal convictions, and that only a small share—about 5%—had violent convictions (CATO Institute).

Indeed, relative to native-born citizens and legal immigrants, undocumented immigrants have the lowest felony arrest rates across all crime types. In fact, the gaps between native-born citizens and undocumented immigrants are substantial. US-born citizens are over 2 times more likely to be arrested for violent crimes, 2.5 times more likely to be arrested for drug crimes, and over 4 times more likely to be arrested for property crimes (National Institute of Health study). Trump used a false narrative to instill fear in his MAGA base. 

Immigration reform has been a topic of debate for decades.  During the end of the Biden administration, a bipartisan immigration reform bill was finally on its way through Congress. The bill, a $118 billion package, was introduced by Senators James Lankford, Chris Murphy, D-Connecticut, and Kyrsten Sinema, I-Arizona. It included $20.23 billion to strengthen border security and stop the flow of fentanyl and other narcotics through the border into the United States.  The package gave the secretary of Homeland Security the power to close the border if more than 4,000 encounters with migrants occurred during a period of seven consecutive days. The immigration overhaul also included:  raising the bar for migrants claiming asylum; clarification of the White House’s use of parole authority to grant temporary protections to migrants; and no longer allowing migrants to live in the U.S. while waiting for their case to be heard by an immigration judge. It didn’t get passed because candidate Trump wanted the immigration issue to remain as a campaign issue (Associated Press, February 2024).

It is also worth noting that under President Obama deportation figures were the highest of any president.  During his tenure, 2.7 to 3 million people were deported.  The daily average ranged from a high of 1,000 to a low of 800.  All of this was accomplished without a surge in ICE arrests.  In contrast, to date, Trump’s ICE is averaging 810 arrests per day with pending deportation.  Most of these individuals are being held in detention centers on a misdemeanor charge.

Why do we need an ICE force that is now 22,000 strong and growing? This number is double that of the 10,000 officers in the organization under past administrations.    Just 10 years ago, the annual budget for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, was less than $6 billion. But ICE’s budget has skyrocketed during President Trump’s second term, becoming the highest-funded U.S. law enforcement agency, at $85 billion. And why does the operating budget include bonuses for arrests?  Do we really want this type of federal immigration enforcement?  Do we support ICE officers who receive only 47 hours of training?

Minneapolis and prior ICE operations in Portland, Los Angeles, Chicago, and a few other cities are a harbinger of possible things to come.  There was no crisis that required the surge in ICE operations!  This was perhaps only a political ploy.  While most MAGAs likely support this move, the majority of Americans are appalled.  A recent FOX News report found that only 35% of those polled support ICE actions in Minneapolis. When thousands of demonstrators take to the streets to protect the immigrants in their communities, that should tell us that there is something wrong with the administration’s policies.  Americans must make their voices heard when the protection that the Trump administration says it is providing becomes a greater threat than the fabricated problem! 

  We deserve to know why so many ICE officers are being hired.  We should demand that all federal officers receive at least a minimum of 400 hours of training, the minimum required by our states for police officers, not 47 hours as currently for ICE officers.  Also, consider the fact that ICE officers are not subject to the stringent pre-employment screening which most police department applicants face.  ICE officers not only lack training in police tactics, such as de-escalation, but some may even have tendencies toward violence. Contact your legislators (specifically Republicans) and tell them not to support the funding of ICE operations until Americans get answers to questions regarding Trump’s false narrative on immigration.

President Donald Trump’s Record of Achievements in 2025

There is a list of more than 100 promises President Trump made for his second term.  His MAGA supporters (approximately 36% of those polled) must be happy.  Many of his promises have been kept, but at what cost?  The following narrative will be broken into ten separate articles.  There is too much to say in just one article.

Immigration

Trump’s promise– Carry out the largest domestic deportation operation in American history.  He had failed to achieve this goal during his 2016 to 2020 presidency due to established guardrails and costs associated with such a massive undertaking.  In January 2025, he said he would begin by deporting criminals and use local law enforcement and the National Guard to help. He indicated that they would build mass deportation camps and did not rule out the use of the military.  As of January 2026, he has in fact initiated what will be the largest deportation operation in American history.  The guardrails have been diminished by Supreme Court decisions, while Congress appropriated $29.85 billion to hire 10,000 additional ICE officers.  This is just a portion of the $170 billion appropriated for enhancing immigration deportation efforts.  President Trump is keeping his promise to MAGA. 

However, what is the impact of this program on Americans?  While the administration focuses on numbers, it is a fact that more illegal immigrants were deported in a single year by President Obama than were deported in 2025. But under President Obama, there were no deportation camps, there was no surge in ICE agents, there was no call-up of the national guard, and citizens were not illegally detained or searched.  There were no headlines regarding citizen pushbacks or ICE killings of protesters. 

The reality of this portion of President Trump’s immigration plan is like many of his proposed operations It is a show that is harming American citizens and illegal immigrants.  Being an illegal immigrant is not a felony.  In the United States, illegal immigration is a federal offense under 8 U.S.C. § 1325. But the maximum punishment, six months’ prison term for the first offense, is a misdemeanor.  And United States citizens who support the immigrant community have the right to free speech and demonstration. (But they do not have a right to obstruct an arrest.)

While being an illegal immigrant is a misdemeanor crime, President Trump has said that ICE would focus on “the worst of the worst,” those with felony convictions.  Federal officials and DHS communications assert that a large majority of arrests target people with criminal convictions or pending charges (officially cited as about 70%), while independent analyses of ICE and detention data find that roughly three quarters of people held in ICE detention in late 2025 had no criminal convictions and that only a small share—about 5%—had violent convictions (CATO Institute).

Build a border wall

During his first presidency, Trump built approximately 450 miles of border barriers along the southern U.S. border, many of which replaced old, dilapidated barriers. He redoubled his promise to build the wall in 2025.  But large portions of the U.S. southern border are on privately owned or federally protected land, where barriers can’t be placed unless the federal government buys the land or seizes it through eminent domain.  During this past year, over 80 more miles of border wall (and water barriers) have been completed.  And additional wall construction is supported by a Congressional appropriation of $46.5 billion.  To date there are now 776 miles of border protection on the 1,954-mile border. 

No single dataset proves that the wall alone caused net reductions; the truth rests in a tangle of sector-specific outcomes, enforcement changes, and external factors.   The money spent building a border could be used for so many other programs to support American citizens.

End birthright citizenship

During his first presidency, President Trump failed  to fulfill his promise to end the people’s right to become U.S citizens if they’re born in the U.S.. This is regardless of their parents’ immigration status. He promised to do this during his second term, issuing executive orders to that effect.  However, legal experts note that such a change would require a constitutional amendment.  The Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether President Trump’s plan to end automatic birthright citizenship for children born on U.S. soil is unconstitutional. The justices recently announced that they will take up the issue, with arguments likely in April of 2026, and a decision is expected by the end of June.

Restore and expand the travel ban

During his first presidency, President Trump signed executive orders to ban citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. for 90 days. He faced numerous legal challenges requiring rewrites of the orders. The travel ban’s third and final version restricted U.S. entry to people from these seven countries, plus Chad, North Korea, and Venezuela. In June 2018, the Supreme Court upheld this travel ban.  

During his second term, President Trump issued an executive order ending visa processing for 75 nations.  The order took effect on January 21, 2026.  There are currently 175 countries in the world.  Thus, this order blocks entry to the U.S. for 43% of the world’s countries.

Suspend refugee resettlement

President Trump has suspended refugee resettlement. As defined by U.S. law, refugees, are people outside of the U.S. who fled their home countries because of persecution related to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. They have received refugee protections from the U.S. before they enter the country. Asylum seekers must also meet the refugee definition, but they must be physically in the U.S. to seek protections.  

In addition, Trump made a promise to Cap Refugee Admissions.  The cap for 2026 is 7,500, the lowest since the implementation of the program in 1980.  The groups selected are more prioritized, with a focus on white South Africans.

Terminate the Customs and Border Protection’s “CBP One” app

Even though his administration launched the tool in 2020, Trump ended a mobile phone application that migrants use to access Customs and Border Protection services.  His reason was that the Biden administration had expanded its use, allowing immigrants to make appointments at official ports of entry to begin the asylum-seeking process.  It is easy to speculate that he ended the program to curb migrant applications for asylum.

Revoke the student visas of radical anti-American and antisemitic foreigners at colleges and universities.

Federal officials were already checking applicants’ backgrounds, including the monitoring of social media. Trump hasn’t said what the additional ideological screening entails, its purpose, or method.  Expanded backgrounding has introduced privacy concerns and discouraged visa applications.

Give college graduates, including those from junior colleges, a green card to be able to stay legally in the U.S.

Changes in eligibility for permanent resident status, also known as receiving a green card,  requires congressional action. Congress had not passed reforms to the immigration system in decades. 

In 2025, Congress passed new stricter green card rules.   These stricter rules do not make it easier for college graduates to stay legally in the United States as promised by President Trump.  The new rules are as follows:

These changes are designed to strengthen immigration enforcement and ensure that green card holders meet their legal obligations.  Trump’s promise to give college graduates (including those from junior colleges) a green card to be able to stay legally in the U.S. has not been fulfilled.  In reality, it has become more difficult to obtain a green card!

Terminate work permits for immigrants in the U.S. illegally

During his first term, President Trump tried to end a program that protects certain people (people who crossed the border illegally as children) from deportation and gives them work permits. The Supreme Court ruled against him, but its legality is unsettled; the case is expected to again reach the Supreme Court in 2026.

Make it illegal to distribute welfare benefits to illegal immigrants

Most immigrants living illegally in the country are  ineligible for benefits from federal programs. A valid Social Security number is needed to receive most federal benefits and immigrants in the country illegally are not issued Social Security numbers. Trump has separately pledged to make immigrants in the U.S. ineligible for public housing assistance. But noncitizen eligibility for housing has generally be prohibited since 1996 under Title IV, or the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act.   

It is easy to promise something that has already been established!

Invoke the Alien Enemies Act to deport gang members

This 1798 law was created when the U.S. feared an impending war with France. It allows the president to arrest, detain and deport people without due process under certain circumstances. But legal experts said Trump faces legal obstacles in this endeavor. 

Designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations

As president in 2019, Trump said he would designate Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. According to the Wilson Center, this legal designation is used to identify foreign groups that “engage in premeditated, politically motivated acts of terrorism against noncombatant targets.” However, Trump said he would temporarily hold off on the designation at the request of Mexico’s president. Now that Trump is again President, he has followed through on his earlier promise.  His attacks on boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, along with his invasion of Venezuela to arrest President Maduro, have been premised on his definition of narcoterrorism.  

International and counterterrorism experts have questioned his actions which have hurt diplomatic relations with Mexico and other Latin American countries.

Create a compensation fund from the seized assets of criminal gangs to support victims of “migrant crime”

Trump announced on Oct. 29, 2024, that he would create a compensation fund from the seized assets of criminal gangs to support victims of “migrant crime” — crime purportedly committed by immigrants who are in the country illegally. “We will be seizing the assets of the criminal gangs and drug cartels, and we will use those assets to create a compensation fund to provide restitution for the victims of migrant crime, and the government will help in the restoration.”  It is interesting to note that immigrant crime contributes little to the violent crime statistics.

So far, nothing tangible has been done in this area.  Most of the revenue from Venezuelan oil (from an alleged drug cartel kingpin) is currently sitting in banks in Qatar.

Revoke the Temporary Protected Status of Haitians in Springfield, Ohio

Trump and his Vice President, JD Vance, targeted Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, including the accusation that they are eating their neighbors’ pets. Trump revoked their legal status and said, “bring them back to their country [sic].” That involved ending their Temporary Protected Status, which protects them from deportation because they are from a country experiencing war, environmental disasters, or epidemics. 

The administration has not only revoked the protected status for Haitians, but also for other foreign nationals, including Cuban and Burmese (Myanmar).

Other Immigration Changes

The H-1B program applies to employers seeking to hire nonimmigrant aliens as workers in specialty occupations or as fashion models of distinguished merit and ability. A specialty occupation is one that requires the application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and the attainment of at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent. The intent of the H-1B provisions is to help employers who cannot otherwise obtain needed business skills and abilities from the U.S. workforce by authorizing the temporary employment of qualified individuals who are not otherwise authorized to work in the United States.  The H-1B visa now has an added $100,000 fee on certain new petitions, making the cost associated with the visa prohibitive for many potential educated and skilled applicants and their perspective employer.

Refugee Admissions Cap

Work Authorization and Employment Extension Document (EAD) Changes

Fees for work authorization and employment extensions are being adjusted upward.  Automatic extensions for employee authorization documents are being rescinded for some employment categories.  For example, work authorization for asylum applicants and green card applicants has been reduced from five years to eighteen months.

Gold Card Visa

President Trump announced a $1 million “Gold Card” visa for high-net-worth investors. The program allows a pathway to permanent residence for foreign nationals.  Buy your way into the USA!

Summary

Immigration policy has seen many changes under President Trump.  Most have occurred through executive order or policy changes in Customs Immigration Services policies.  There has been no Congressional approval sought.  But Congress has not taken any steps to intervene.  Applicants, employers, and immigration advocates are required to navigate these changing policies where the benefits seem to change quickly.

The “foreseen” consequences of this paradigm shift in immigration policy are many.  There is a reason that the Statue of Liberty has a plaque that says, ““Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”  America was built by immigrants.  The success of this nation is the result of people who came here with a dream.  Some achieved greatness in various endeavors.  Most have lived productive and rewarding lives.

The Congressional Budget Office has stated the country’s total population is projected to stop growing in 2056. But according to the report, in 2030, without immigration, the population would begin to shrink as deaths start to exceed births, making immigrants an increasingly important source of population growth. This has important implications for our workforce and economy.

Congress for Sale

“We the People” are supposed to be the government.  Our founding fathers made it clear that a democratic republic needed educated and involved people.  The earliest members of Congress were chosen by the people.  However, these early leaders also understood the temptations that power brought to various individuals and groups.  George Washington, in this farewell address, cautioned against political parties.  John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and others cautioned against the influence of monied interests.  As designed, the system would work only if “guard rails” were established.

Washington’s concern was soon disregarded, as the founding fathers themselves could not agree on whether to have a strong central government or a system of states represented in a republican nation.  This basic difference of opinion continues under our present political two-party system, with smaller parties playing only a tangential role. 

The concerns of John Adams and the others were also ignored.  While early representation was likely to be influenced by those already in local power and those with financial influence, at least the elected representatives did represent the districts that they served.  In today’s political environment, these same influences continue but have been distorted by the Supreme Court Decision in Citizen’s United and a lack of strong rules regarding lobbying efforts.  Large corporations now have a political voice.  Lobbyists represent not only individual monied interest, but large corporations with unlimited funds that are used to sway representative views.

The founding fathers created a democratic republic where the people were to be decision makers. However, monied interests were soon influencing elected officials.   While the problem of money in politics is not new, today’s PACs, and dark money operations, have eroded the power of the people in favor of those who can influence our political leaders with money and other opportunities, such as paid vacations, and personal favors.

Who (or what) has the greatest impact on legislation and our elected representative?  Companies, labor unions, trade associations, social and political groups, and other influential organizations spend billions each year to lobby Congress and federal agencies. Last year over 4.5 billion dollars was spent by 13,000 lobbyists. Some special interests retain lobbying firms, many of them located along Washington’s legendary K Street; others have lobbyists working in-house.  How can the average voter compete?

Organized spending by PACs and special interests have a great deal of influence.  In 2024 the biggest spender was Future Forward USA, spending over $510 million dollars.  This organization leans democratic and worked to elect Kamala Harris.  The next biggest spender was MAGA at $377 million.  Other major groups leading the list are political action organizations supporting both democrats and republicans.  America PAC (Texas), a group primarily funded by Elon Musk, supports President Trump with $196 million.  Americans for Prosperity spent $138 million, with funding by the Koch family supporting Libertarian causes.  Fairshare PAC is funded by Cryto, Coinbase, Ripple (cryto firm), and Andreessen/Horowitz (capital investment firm) at $112 million.  The most altruistic group is Preserve America, founded by G. W. Bush, to support American culture and nature spending at $112 million.

Individual companies spending large sums include SpaceX with contributions of $289 million, followed by Adelson Clinic spending $147 million.  Adelson Clinic was established to study drug use and abuse issues following the Opioid epidemic.  Third is Uline funded by Robert Uihien, a prominent ultra conservative, at $146 million. 

National Associations also spend large sums lobbying for their organizations.  At the top of the list is the National Association of Realtors spending $86 million.  They are followed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at $76 million.  The next grouping, which includes pharma, hospitals, Blue Cross, and the AMA, spends a combined total of $113 million.

There are many others that spend millions of dollars to influence legislation.  If the government was truly of the people, should these special interest groups be allowed to have such a massive impact on elected officials?  There is a reason that so many in Congress are millionaires.  Consider our key legislators.  Mike Johnson received over $618,000 from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in 2023.  and Lockheed Martin added another $60,000 in donations. Hakeem Jefferies received $866,000 from the AIPAC, and $64,000 from Lockheed.  Chuck Shumer is supported by Blackstone (investment firm) with $281,000 and an additional $235,000 from NextEra Energy.  John Thume received $122,000 from AIPAC and $96,000 from Sanford Health.  Dick Durbin is supported by Power Rodgers LLP (Chicago law firm) with $102,000 and Simmon Hanly Conroy (law firm) for $80,000.  For more information about specific legislators go to Open Secrets (www.opensecrets.org).

Perhaps the answer to why so many Congressional initiatives that might help the average American don’t get passed lies with the undue influence of big money!  We need to support efforts to get big money and excessive lobbying out of Congress!