Trump broke 80 promises in 100 days
Research Director, ThinkProgress
On Saturday, Donald Trump marks the 100th day of his presidency, and finds his approval ratings much lower than any of his modern predecessors.
One reason for this could be perceptions about his accountability. To become president, Trump made a lot of promises to a lot of people — 663, in fact. In just 100 days of what would be 1,461 days of a first term, Donald Trump has broken 80 promises he made before he was sworn in.
The White House, and Trump in particular, have placed a great deal of emphasis on the administration’s accomplishments in the first 100 days. He signed a one-week extension to keep the government open on Friday night, for instance. There is a brand-new section on the White House website devoted to the “historic pace” at which Trump “is keeping his promises to the American people.”
At times, however, Trump has also tried to downplay the importance of his first 100 days. “Because the hundred days is just an artificial barrier,” he told the Associated Press last week. “The press keeps talking about the hundred days. But we’ve done a lot. You have a list of things. I don’t have to read it.”
A White House press release showed how many executive orders Trump issued in the first 100 days in comparison to his predecessors — ignoring the fact that he had mocked Obama’s use of them in the past.
The American people, according to a recent CBS poll, do largely believe Trump is trying to fulfill his campaign promises, even though large majorities oppose the policies associated with those promises.
Yet a close analysis of the 663 promises Trump made on the campaign trail shows how few he has kept, and how many more he has broken.
Trump’s promises about what he would accomplish in his first 100 days are not the first vows pegged to a key milestone that were summarily ignored or broken. As a candidate, Trump made several pledges about the first paper he would sign, as well as what would he would do during his first minute and first hour as president. He kept none of them. On his first day in office, Trump failed to keep 34 different promises of what he said he would do on Day One in the White House — and fulfilled just two.
In total, during his first month in office, Trump broke 64 promises. He kept just seven of his promises in that first month.
Including those from the first month, Trump has broken 80 promises and kept seven in the first hundred days. Three promises have been addressed with some caveats in a separate category below.
Many of the 100 days promises are legislative, introduced in an October speech in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. In that speech, he said, “I will work with Congress to introduce the following broader legislative measures and fight for their passage within the first 100 days of my administration.” But none of these measures have been passed, and aside from an Obamacare repeal bill that has floundered in Congress, no Trump-approved bills have even been introduced in either chamber.
Asked about this at Monday’s press briefing, Press Secretary Sean Spicer explained it away as merely a promise to work with Congress: “I think we’re going to continue to work with Congress — as he says in that document, I will work with Congress to achieve these things; we are going to continue to work with Congress to achieve those.”
Asked again about the lack of progress so far on the legislative front, Spicer pointed to the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, the number of new executive orders Trump had signed, and the fact that Trump “has been extremely busy.”
When the AP’s Julie Pace asked Trump about the 100-day plan, Trump replied, “I’m mostly there on most items.”
The reality shows the opposite.
Trump promised he would work with Congress to introduce for passage in the first 100 days the End Illegal Immigration Act which funds construction of the wall
“Next, I will work with Congress to introduce the following broader legislative measures and fight for their passage within the first 100 days of my administration. … End Illegal Immigration Act. Fully funds the construction of a wall on our southern border — don’t worry about it, remember, I said Mexico’s paying for the wall — with the full understanding that the country of Mexico will be reimbursing the United States for the full cost of such a wall. Okay? We’re going to have the wall. Mexico’s going to pay for the wall. … But it establishes a two-year mandatory minimum federal prison sentence, this is people coming in illegally, for illegally reentering the United States after a previous deportation. And a five-year mandatory minimum for illegally reentering for those with felony convictions, multiple misdemeanor convictions, or two or more prior deportations.” [Gettysburg, PA, 10/22/16]
No such bill has been introduced, let alone passed, and the prospects for including even a small percentage of the funding to start the wall in the FY 2017 budget bill dimmed even further this week when Trump said he would be willing to delay funding in order to keep the government open. And not only has Mexico refused to pay for the wall, but this week its foreign minister also said Mexico would consider the construction of the wall a “hostile act.”
Trump promised he would work with Congress to introduce for passage in the first 100 days the Repeal and Replace Obamacare Act
“Next, I will work with Congress to introduce the following broader legislative measures and fight for their passage within the first 100 days of my administration. … The Repeal and Replace Obamacare Act. Fully repeal Obamacare and replace it with health savings accounts. We can do that.” [Gettysburg, PA, 10/22/16]
Despite running on repealing Obamacare for four straight elections, the Republican-led Congress has thus far failed to repeal the signature health care law of the land. The White House signaled a late push to resuscitate the failed repeal effort in recent weeks, but no vote happened in the first 100 days of Trump’s presidency. And Trump himself has admitted, assuming the law is repealed, that people shouldn’t expect a replacement bill until 2018. This is not to say that Trump cannot threaten Obamacare without the help of Congress, with various departments, including Health and Human Services, being directed to undermine the law in several ways. Still, no bill passed in the first 100 days.
Trump promised he won’t let countries steal our jobs anymore
“We’ll put our people back to work, we will not let other countries steal our jobs. It it is not going to happen anymore.” [Worcester, MA, 11/18/15]
According to a ThinkProgress analysis of Labor Department data, at least 11,934 American jobs have been lost or are in the process of leaving the United States since Inauguration Day.
Trump promised he would work with Congress to introduce for passage in the first 100 days the American Energy and Infrastructure Act
“Next, I will work with Congress to introduce the following broader legislative measures and fight for their passage within the first 100 days of my administration. … The American Energy and Infrastructure Act, leverages public/private partnerships and private investment through tax incentives to spur $1 trillion in infrastructure investment over the next ten years.” [Gettysburg, PA, 10/22/16]
Trump has yet to unveil his long-promoted infrastructure plan, nor even endorsed any legislation in Congress.
Trump promised he would work with Congress to introduce for passage in the first 100 days the Restoring National Security Act
“Next, I will work with Congress to introduce the following broader legislative measures and fight for their passage within the first 100 days of my administration. … Restoring National Security Act, which rebuilds our military, by eliminating the defense sequester, which has been very tough for our military and expanding military investment. … It also provides our great veterans with the ability to receive public VA treatment or attend a private doctor of their choice.” [Gettysburg, PA, 10/22/16]
This bill has not been introduced, and as these issues are largely budgetary, they would be addressed in spending bills. Congress just passed a one-week extension of the FY 2017 budget which included baseline levels of military spending.
Trump promised he would work with Congress to introduce for passage in the first 100 days a bill to end the Offshoring Act
“Next, I will work with Congress to introduce the following broader legislative measures and fight for their passage within the first 100 days of my administration. … End the Offshoring Act, establish tariffs to discourage companies from laying off their workers in order to relocate in other countries and ship their products back to the United States tax-free.” [Gettysburg, PA, 10/22/16]
This bill has not yet been introduced, let alone passed.
Trump promised he would fight for passage of tax cut in first 100 days
“Next I will work with Congress to introduce a series of legislative reforms and will fight for their passage in the first 100 days of my administration. This legislation quickly includes the Middle Class Tax Relief and Simplification Act.” [Sanford, FL, 10/25/16]
While Trump did release a one-page, whittled-down outline of a tax plan this week, it has not been introduced in legislative form in Congress, let alone voted on or passed.
Trump promised he would work with Congress to introduce for passage in the first 100 days a middle class tax relief bill
“Next, I will work with Congress to introduce the following broader legislative measures and fight for their passage within the first 100 days of my administration. … Middle class tax relief and simplification act. An economic plan designed to grow the economy 4% per year and create at least 25 million new jobs through massive tax reduction and simplification in combination with trade reform, regulatory relief and lifting the restrictions on American energy. … The largest tax reductions are for the middle class. … The middle class with family of two children will get basically approximately a 35% tax cut. … The current number of brackets will be reduced from seven to three. And tax forms will likewise be greatly simplified. The business rate will be lowered from 35% to 15%. And the trillions of dollars of American corporate money overseas can now be brought back at a 10% rate.” [Gettysburg, PA, 10/22/16]
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Thursday that there is no guarantee that middle class families would not pay more under the proposals. The focus is on corporate tax reform, and Trump himself would benefit from a proposal to change the way corporations like the Trump Organization pay taxes.
Trump promised he would work with Congress to introduce for passage in the first 100 days and Education Opportunity Act
Next, I will work with Congress to introduce the following broader legislative measures and fight for their passage within the first 100 days of my administration. … An Education Opportunity Act. Redirects education dollars to give parents the right to send their kid, their children to public, private, charter, magnate, religious or home schools of their choice. [Gettysburg, PA, 10/22/16]
A bill from Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) was introduced in March that attempts to achieve some of these goals, but the bill has no cosponsors and was referred to committee. Trump has made no public mention of it nor offered his support. No other Trump-approved legislation has been introduced, let alone passed or signed.
Trump promised he would work with Congress to introduce for passage in the first 100 days the Restoring Community Safety Act
“Next, I will work with Congress to introduce the following broader legislative measures and fight for their passage within the first 100 days of my administration. … Number eight, Restoring Community Safety Act. Reduces surging crime, drugs and violence by creating a task force on violent crime, and increasing funding for programs that train and assist your local police, who are doing such a great job. Believe me. Increase the resources for federal law enforcement agencies, and federal prosecutors to dismantle criminal gangs and put violent offenders behind bars or out of our country and into the country where they came from.” [Gettysburg, PA, 10/22/16]
This bill has not been introduced, let alone passed.
Trump promised he would work with Congress to introduce for passage in the first 100 days the Clean Up Corruption in Washington Act
“Next, I will work with Congress to introduce the following broader legislative measures and fight for their passage within the first 100 days of my administration. … Clean Up Corruption in Washington Act. Enacts tough new ethics reforms, to reduce the corrupting influence of special interests, and donors, on our politics.” [Gettysburg, PA, 10/22/16]
While some members of Congress have introduced various bills related to ethics reform, Trump has not publicly endorsed any of them.
Trump promised he would work with Congress to introduce for passage in the first 100 days the Affordable Child Care and Elder Care Act
“Next, I will work with Congress to introduce the following broader legislative measures and fight for their passage within the first 100 days of my administration. … Affordable Child Care and Elder Care Act allows Americans to deduct child care and elder care from their taxes. Incentivizes employers to provide on-site — so important — child care services. And you see that with a couple of companies, and it’s such a great thing to see. And creates tax-free dependent care savings accounts for both young and elderly dependents with matching contributions for low-income families. So good.” [Gettysburg, PA, 10/22/16]
This bill has not been introduced, let alone passed.
Trump promised his administration would have a hacking report in 90 days
“What are Hillary Clinton’s people complaining about with respect to the F.B.I. Based on the information they had she should never….. released by ‘Intelligence’ even knowing there is no proof, and never will be. My people will have a full report on hacking within 90 days!” [Twitter, 1/13/17]
Ninety days into his presidency, there was no team, no plan, and no report on hacking, according to Politico. There is no evidence 100 days in, either.
Trump promised he would impose new Secretary of State ethics rules
“Number one, the first 100 days… we’re going to impose tough new ethics rules to restore dignity to the Office of the Secretary of State.” [New York, NY, 6/22/16]
As of yet, the State Department has not released any new ethics rules related to the Office of the Secretary of State.
Trump promised to start renegotiating trade deals within 90 days
“But I would start — because I noticed your question briefly — boom, what would you do in the first 90 days? I would immediately start renegotiating our trade deals with Mexico, China, Japan and all of these countries that are just absolutely destroying us. [Washington Post, 4/2/16]
While there is some talk that Trump may sign an executive order withdrawing from NAFTA, and more talk about issuing a broader executive order that would re-examine all 14 trade deals, none of that happened within the first 100 days, let alone 90 days.
Trump promised that his immigration rule changes will lower unemployment
“Number one, the first 100 days… I will change immigration rules to give unemployed Americans an opportunity to fill good, really good paying jobs. We don’t have good paying jobs anymore. These will be good paying jobs.” [New York, NY, 6/22/16]
While Trump has attempted to change several rules related to the country’s immigration system though two executive orders — which attempted to halt both the entry of foreign nationals from Syria and other Muslim-majority countries into the United States and suspend all refugee resettlement — both were held up in court. Another executive order targeted the enforcement of high-skilled visas, although it had no weight without congressional action. While the unemployment rate has ticked down from 4.8 percent in January to 4.5 percent in March, there has also been no evidence of a swath of new good-paying jobs in the first hundred days, nor that his policies have had any effect on the unemployment rate.
Ask every department head in government to provide a list of wasteful spending to eliminate
“We are going to ask every department head in government to provide a list of wasteful spending, on projects that we can eliminate in my first 100 days. The politicians have talked about this for year, but I’m going to do it.” [Cleveland, OH, 7/21/16]
Trump did indeed sign an executive order in March ordering a government-wide review of spending and waste, which asked agency heads to send a list of recommendations for waste to be cut within six months — not 100 days. Thus far no lists have been made public.
Trump promised to deregulate drilling technologies
“Here is my 100-day action plan … We’re going to revoke policies that impose unwarranted restrictions on new drilling technologies. These technologies create millions of jobs with a smaller footprint than ever before.” [Trump campaign website, 5/26/16]
The president has certainly not been quiet on this front. Almost half of Trump’s executive actions in the first hundred days have been related to the environment. The EPA has announced it will reconsider the 2016 rule limiting methane pollution from new oil and gas wells, although it has not been revoked yet. Trump’s executive order on Friday opening up federal waters in the Arctic, Atlantic, and the Gulf of Mexico to offshore drilling may serve to ease the use of certain drilling technologies. These executive orders, however, will not bring back the jobs Trump says they will, however, as automation and cheaper alternatives have had greater impacts.
Trump promised to rescind executive actions
“Here is my 100 day action plan. We’re going to rescind all the job destroying Obama executive actions. Including the Climate Action Plan and the Waters of the United States Rule. Okay? Remember that. We’re going to save the coal industry.” [Anaheim, CA, 5/25/16]
Trump did sign an executive order aimed at the Clean Water Rule, although it faces numerous legal and scientific hurdles. It cannot be said he has rescinded it yet. In March, Trump signed a behemoth executive order unilaterally rescinding the Climate Action Plan, as well as several other key environmental rules and regulations. Either the White House has concluded that the Climate Action Plan is the only executive action that destroyed jobs, or he has not fulfilled his promise.
There were no 100 days promises clearly kept by the administration in ThinkProgress’ analysis.
Trump promised not to close borders through executive orders.
“All I’m saying is I’ll make great deals and we’ll get them done and we don’t to have use executive orders and all the stuff that Obama is using which at some point, I would imagine the courts are going to overrule in one form or another. But we’re not going to be opening our borders or closing our orders based on executive orders. We’re going to do it. We will get along well.” [Fox Special Report with Brett Baier, 1/26/16]
Trump has issued several executive orders directed at the borders of the United States.
For the rest of this article, click here.
***
Illustration by Diana Ofosu.
***
Reposted from ThinkProgress.
