At the Washington Reporter, we are used to politicians who overpromise on the campaign trail but underdeliver once in office. That is why President Donald Trump’s first year back in office stands out so clearly. He has done the opposite of what most politicians do. He’s under-promised and over-delivered — our belief in Trump was one of the reasons we broke with historical precedent and endorsed him ahead of his historic 2024 victory.
The national murder rate is dropping, a welcome reversal after years of rising violent crime under Democratic policies. The Trump administration restored support for law enforcement, rejected soft-on-crime policies, and made clear that public safety comes first. The border is now quiet because Trump succeeded. In fact, if anything, the president has been too successful at the border, because many voters have forgotten what things were like under the Biden administration. The president and Republicans are victims of our own success.
On foreign policy, American strength is back. Trump’s decision to take out Iran’s nuclear sites was perfectly executed and removed a major threat not just to our allies but also to us. Trump also did it in a way that cost no American casualties and kept us out of any costly prolonged engagement. What Trump then did with Venezuela was nothing short of cinematic. In lawfully drone striking Venezuelan drug boats and extraditing the country’s illegitimate dictator Nicolás Maduro, Trump showed that years of Democrats talking tough about our own hemisphere was nothing more than empty words.
The economic picture has also been a success. Gas prices are down because supply is up, thanks to Trump’s policies. Lower gas prices are essentially a pay bump for working Americans. Egg prices are low after skyrocketing under Biden. The stock market is up, and most importantly, wages have grown faster than inflation, something that wasn’t true under the Democrats.
Trump is also delivering on his promise of more affordability, as the Washington Reporter has extensively covered, including in our latest interview with the president. Affordability has also been helped by a return to common sense. Rather than forcing Americans into costly mandates like electric vehicles, the administration has supported lower cost gas powered vehicles, preserving choices, and creating more U.S. jobs.
Finally, Trump has dismantled racist DEI programs across the federal government. Replacing racism with merit is good for everyone, and it’s a core American principle.
The bottom line is that, as Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) memorably said, “every American is safer and more prosperous because of President Trump’s leadership.”