Donald Trump’s first 100 days as U.S. president are over. On 10 things he promised to achieve in that span that required legislation to enact, he came up empty, despite Republicans controlling both houses of Congress. His only unqualified achievement has been the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court, something that is likely to leave a lasting legacy but that could have and would have been done by any Republican president. During the first 100 days, traditionally a honeymoon period for a new president, Trump’s approval ratings have been the lowest of all presidents for whom we have data.
Will President Trump Learn on the Job?
There’s little reason to expect him to change.
May 04, 2017
Summary.
Donald Trump’s first 100 days as President are over. What does this opening act tell us about how he will handle the office of President for the rest of his term? Barring the hiring of an extremely competent and very influential new advisor who could majorly shake up his administration, it’s unlikely that we’ll see a major departure from these first few months. First, research suggests that the older someone is the less likely they are to change, and Trump, at 70, is America’s oldest newly elected president. Second, Trump’s behavior in the first 100 days fits a clear and repeated pattern from his business career: seeking short-term personal wins (particularly wins that garner him significant publicity) at the expense of much larger long-term collective losses. Third, change takes a lot of work, and Trump himself seems to see no reason to put in the effort: he has called his first 100 days “just about the most successful in our country’s history.” So, if you like what you’ve seen so far, you’re in luck. If not, brace yourself for about 1,300 more days of the same.