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By Gregory M. Thayer
By any fair measure, President Donald Trump’s first year back in office has been defined by speed, clarity of purpose, bold, and a willingness to act where others hesitated. Whether one agrees with every decision or not, the contrast with recent years is unmistakable: the federal government is no longer drifting. It is moving — decisively.
From day one, the administration made clear that the priorities were economic growth, border security, government efficiency, and American sovereignty. Unlike administrations that spend their first year studying problems, this one focused on executing solutions.
Start with the economy. Making the 2017 tax cuts permanent removed years of uncertainty hanging over families and businesses. Expanded deductions for seniors and working families put more money directly into household budgets, while incentives for domestic investment helped reignite manufacturing growth. Job creation rebounded, capital spending increased, and consumer confidence stabilized — all signals of an economy responding to predictability rather than bureaucracy. Don’t for the One, Big Beautiful Bill with no tax on tips, overtime, and social security income, and more.
On immigration, the administration delivered what voters had been promised for years: enforcement. By ending catch-and-release policies, tightening asylum standards, and prioritizing the removal of violent offenders, the federal government reasserted control of the border. Illegal crossings fell sharply, relieving pressure on border communities and restoring credibility to the nation’s immigration system. One need not oppose immigration to recognize that a system without enforcement is not a system at all.
Perhaps the most underappreciated achievement has been the aggressive push to reform the federal government itself. Through executive action and agency restructuring, the administration moved to reduce regulatory sprawl, curb wasteful spending, and demand accountability from a permanent bureaucracy long insulated from consequences. The creation of new efficiency mechanisms signaled a clear message: government exists to serve the public, not itself.
With foreign policy, the president returned to a posture of unapologetic national interest. Sanctions were enforced, trade rules were defended, and allies were reminded that partnership requires reciprocity. While critics labeled this approach confrontational, supporters saw something else — a United States willing to negotiate from strength rather than habit. America First, which means Americans First!
Of course, controversy followed. It always does when power is exercised rather than avoided. Court challenges, protests, and sharp media criticism accompanied many of these actions. But controversy is not failure. In many cases, it is evidence that long-standing assumptions are finally being questioned.
After a year back in the Oval, the central takeaway is simple: this administration chose action over paralysis. Voters did not elect a caretaker; they elected a solid leader. Whether history ultimately applauds every decision is for the future to decide. But in its first year, the Trump administration undeniably delivered what it promised — movement, direction, strength, and a government once again willing to use its power and confidence.
In an era defined by hesitation, that alone is a notable accomplishment.
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Categories: Commentary
Good article, Greg. Thank you.
I, too, appreciate and applaud the courage of President Trump and his administration’s decisive action on behalf of our nation. He inherited an absolutely disgusting mess from the previous administration, and has stood against the vicious attacks, TDS, and lawfare against him for ten years. He has never stopped fighting for the American people, and really for the good of the whole world.
Well said Mr. Thayer and well done Mr. President.
You missed some things Mr Thayer.
– Most grocery prices are still higher than they were a year ago.
– Trump’s family businesses are making billions while small business owners see higher prices and smaller margins with wild tariff changes.
– Children are less protected from fatal childhood illnesses after vaccine guidance changed.
– Depend on tourism revenue (Vermont)? Foreign tourism has dropped significantly.
– Still hasn’t released the Epstein files
– Added approximately $2.25 trillion to the national debt during his first year back in office.
– Allowed women and children in Ukraine to be slaughtered by Putin
– Threaten to invade countries of long time allies that have supported us for decades.
– Did not end the war in Ukraine as promised
– Has belittled and threatened anyone that disagrees with him, including long standing allies
– Criticized for a lack of transparency and accountability, particularly regarding his administration’s handling of various issues
– Accepted a luxury 747 from his Qatari friends
– Granted 142 pardons and 28 commutations, including a mass pardon for over 1,500 individuals connected to the January 6 Capitol riot. I am sure that later was very welcomed by the police officers that defended the Capitol that day. Pardoned Ross Ulbricht, creator of Silk Road, an underground website for selling drugs. Pardoned Changpeng Zhao, founder of Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, October. Zhao was sentenced to four months in prison in April 2024 after pleading guilty to violating money laundering laws. Pardoned Former New York Republican Rep. George Santos who was sentenced in April to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to fraud and identity theft charges. Pardoned Juan Orlando Hernandez, the president of Honduras from 2014 to 2022, who was serving a 45-year sentence in a West Virginia prison. Hernandez was involved in a drug trafficking operation that moved more than 400 tons of cocaine into the United States. Pardoned sitting Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) in December. Cuellar was indicted in 2024 on bribery and money laundering charges.
I could keep writing but would be here all day. Trump is an embarrassment to America. He is a threat to the world
I guess I don’t listen to the main stream media too much these days, but instead look at facts for my opinions. I’d just like to share my findings about a few of your comments:
– My grocery bill is slightly less than it was 1 to 2 years ago, on average. I save my receipts and can compare item by item among the common things I buy every week.
– Our kids still have the same vaccines available today they had a year or two ago. The only difference is that we, as parents, should get all the information about risks and efficacy and we can make our own decisions if they get it
– The Epstein files the FBI had were released (it was all over the news). The Biden administration didn’t release them when they had the chance. The names of victims were redacted, per civil law. Epstein was definitely a predator, but now he’s dead. Frankly, I don’t understand the preoccupation with this guy. He preyed on celebrities and political figures.
– Denmark was not holding up it’s end of the bargain to help it’s NATO allies and Greenland was going undefended…but the latest news indicates there is a deal on the table.
– The pardons and preemptive pardons issued by Biden were done with an Auto-pen, probably without his knowledge (he was senile anyway). As far as January 6th protesters, why didn’t the Biden administration ever go after the people who led the group of protesters into the building and who were on video causing damage? Were they undercover FBI/CIA agents and part of the Arctic Frost collusion that lied to Congress and the American People? What about the people who burned down the Church in Washington in 2020 during the “summer of love?” Why weren’t they pursued with the same aggressiveness as the J6 protesters ? Those who marched to the Capitol to bring their grievances about election concerns to congress were defending Constitutionally guaranteed rights to free and fair elections. They were not trying to overthrow the government, but to defend the government of the people, by the people, and for the people. I doubt we will see eye to eye on this topic. As far as the other pardons, we don’t have all the facts, do we?
– Wow, just wow “Allowed women and children in Ukraine to be slaughtered by Putin”. Seriously? After the Biden administration did NOTHING for 3 years? Thank God we finally have some progress on ending the war in eastern Europe and the European countries are finally stepping up to defend themselves instead of relying on the US Taxpayer to flip the bill for their failings. Trump is the one that allowed Zelensky to use long range equipment to strike Putin’s military and energy infrastructure, not Biden. The Trump administration also had the genius to end Maduro’s support of Putin, and is working to end the Iranian Islamic regime’s support of that war machine. The direct peace negotiations may or may not work with these insane idiots.
If you want to understand why we do not want to continue with the Democrat/Marxist agenda anymore, all you have to do is take a look at what Putin and the CCP are doing. And the Clinton/Obama/Biden track record of failures. That said, we should still be wary of Republican leadership, but right now, we are headed in the right direction for peace, prosperity, and world stability.
Looks like they are whipping up the third world war and this information is all available when you do your research. The cost in our household have increased thirty percent in the last three years and we have not changed our spending habits.
Your costs have increased by 30% because you live in VERMONT. Go to a red state and you can afford to live again.