2:15Donald Trump is sworn into office by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump holds the Bible in the Capitol Rotunda, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Pool/Getty Images
When President Donald Trump completed a remarkable political revival on Inauguration Day last Jan. 20, he declared that the "Golden Age of America" had begun, and during his initial year, the country has undergone a whirlwind of domestic and international policy shifts, along with political conflicts that have ignited vigorous national discussions.
Shortly after taking office, the president enacted over 200 executive measures, including the reversal of nearly 80 decisions made by President Joe Biden, and pardoning 1,500 individuals convicted of crimes related to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Donald Trump is sworn into office by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump holds the Bible in the Capitol Rotunda, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Pool/Getty Images
"From this moment onward, our nation will thrive and regain its respect worldwide. We will become the envy of all nations, and we will no longer permit ourselves to be exploited. Throughout each day of the Trump administration, I will simply prioritize America," Trump pledged during his inaugural speech.
A review of Trump’s inaugural year reveals a blend of promises kept, bold actions, and persistent controversies that highlight his political aspirations and the polarized responses from the American public.
Foreign policy
Trump campaigned on a platform of "peace through strength," asserting his intention to serve as a global peacemaker.
"My greatest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and a unifier. I aspire to be a peacemaker and a unifier," Trump asserted during his inauguration speech.
Since assuming office, the president has made noteworthy foreign policy choices, from a ground operation to detain the leader of Venezuela, escalating tensions with Europe over attempts to acquire Greenland, to efforts aimed at resolving global disputes from Ukraine to the Middle East.
The president accomplished one of these objectives by establishing a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict that has persisted in Gaza. This fragile peace agreement has endured and has recently entered its second stage, following extensive diplomatic efforts by Trump and several of his key allies.
President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office at the White House, Feb. 28, 2025.Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Trump has also developed what he refers to as the "Donroe Doctrine," a clever twist on the Monroe Doctrine that redefines the American role in the Western Hemisphere. This new perspective was highlighted by an operation in Venezuela aimed at capturing then-President Nicolas Maduro and bringing him to the U.S. to face allegations of supporting drug cartels that imported narcotics into the U.S.
This initiative followed the administration’s strikes on vessels purportedly transporting drugs, resulting in the deaths of over 100 individuals. Such actions have faced significant scrutiny from Democrats.
The president has also advocated for the U.S. to acquire Greenland, escalating tensions with European allies as he seeks to fulfill his commitment to take control of Denmark’s semiautonomous territory. These tensions have heightened around the one-year anniversary of Trump’s presidency, as he has not dismissed the possibility of seizing Greenland by force.
Trump promised during his campaign to end the war in Ukraine on his first day in office. However, despite numerous meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a landmark summit on American soil with Russian President Vladimir Putin
Sourse: abcnews.go.com