Without a doubt, the new Trump administration has exceeded all expectations — from both sides. After the four-year somnolence of Joe Biden, Trump supporters are thrilled to see our nation on the move once again, taking on huge issues both at home and around the world. They may not be tired of winning as Trump warned, but they’re seeing big strides in the right direction, across the board.
Meanwhile, Trump’s enemies hate him more than ever, in spite of (or maybe because of) his effectiveness. In the words of wannabe political pundit Jimmy Kimmel, “We knew he would be bad, but no one ever thought he could be this bad!”
The dust hasn’t even settled, and suddenly the midterm elections are just 14 months away, and hugely important. If Democrats manage to regain the House (quite possible with current razor-thin margins), the Trump train will slow to a crawl.
I believe the Trump presidency is right now at its most critical point. Taking the field by storm was a great way to gain an early edge, but it won’t finish the job. There are plenty of indications that the American voting public is impressed by his lightning-fast start, but they’re also worried about the future — and they’re tired of the endless childish bickering. It’s time to rise above the fray, shift gears, consolidate gains, and drive home the wins that really matter.
I’m pretty sure that our president does not read my columns, and he’s generally rumored not to be receptive to external advice. But FWIW, Mr. President, here’s my take:
At this point, throttle back on the shock and awe. You’re already in the spotlight constantly, so there is no need to make a big new splash every week. You now have absolute clarity on what our country needs and what the public wants. Clear the decks, and make those your laser focus issues from this point on. Those issues are:
End the wars. Intensify your efforts to stop the Russia/Ukraine and Israel/Hamas hostilities, and don’t back off until both are resolved. If there is an existential threat facing the world today, it’s the two ongoing hot wars, either or both of which can metastasize into a global and perhaps even nuclear world war.
You’d promised to end both quickly, and you’ve taken a lot of heat for failing so far to achieve that goal. But in stark contrast to your predecessor’s timidity, you’ve shown political courage from day one and exercised more influence than any world leader. The world sees that, and the American voting public recognizes it.
In the Middle East, your bold action defanged (partially, and perhaps permanently) the nuclear ambitions of Hamas-supporting Iran. And in Russia, Putin’s continuing escalation of the hostilities demands an unequivocal response of the kind you’ve intimated for some time. In both cases, we — by your influence with the help of other nations — exert maximum political, diplomatic, and primarily economic pressure at a level that makes the combatant’s hostilities unsustainable.
Stop the carnage. Save the world.
Illegal immigrants. On the home front, dealing with illegal immigrants residing in our country is a matter of central importance, and I believe that how you do so poses the single biggest threat to the success of your presidency. In my view, your current de facto policy of deporting all illegal immigrants is unworkable, unnecessary, in many cases unfair, and very likely a political calamity. I urge you to reconsider and recalibrate, now.
As spectacular as your success in closing the border (the one Joe claimed could only be secured by sweeping legislation) is, it’s already old news. What’s on the public mind right now is how we treat the good neighbors among them. The mere fact that the disposition of a single deportation case — of a clearly undesirable illegal immigrant, and only one of 12 million or more in our country right now — can garner daily news coverage, ongoing legal action, and endless public sympathy tells us all we need to know about the political hazard of mass deportation.
Solution remains (in my view):
1.) Register every illegal in the very near term — anyone who does not step forward in that time frame is immediately deportable when found.
2.) Establish a legal residency status, allowing them to stay indefinitely, subject to tax-paying, self-sufficient, and crime-free residency — no citizenship and no voting rights.
3.) Accelerated resolution of asylum claims, with strict criteria based on a long-term definition.
This is a 100% inherited problem, but it’s yours to fix.
Economy, Energy, and the Environment. James Carville’s declaration that “it’s the economy, stupid” is still true, but it’s not the whole story. You promised a roaring economy, and in some respects, it is — the stock market is at an all-time high. Democrats who gleefully predicted economic collapse as soon as you started your tariff binge were quickly proven wrong. Your repeated insistence that everyone in the world wants a piece of the U.S. market is a central lever that you must keep pulling.
Energy — supply, cost, and reliability — plays a huge part in our economy, and we need to hear and see more of that. Your reversal of the previous administration’s wholesale buy-in to climate hysteria, including the war on fossil fuels and premature embrace of all things green, is both a major economic win and still leaves room for sensible environmental protection policy. You should rely on the team of Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Interior Secretary Doug Bergum, and EPA chief Lee Zeldin for collaborative, effective on-the-ground leadership on those combined issues.
But prices remain high, and kitchen table issues are critically important. Mr. President, you are a highly successful businessman; economic matters are in your wheelhouse. But you must stay on it like a hawk.
Urban crime. It’s a very real issue that has been steadily slipping into the too-hard-to-fix category. Your so-far successful action to step in to help tamp down Washington, DC, crime has been well received, as has your companion step of aggressive action to interdict drug traffic.
Can you take that show on the road to outer high-crime cities? Yes, but keep the high ground — don’t allow it to turn into a food fight with the likes of Governors Gavin Newsom and JB Pritzker. And don’t rely on questionable “emergency” declarations, as they are sure to end up in the courts. Just make the solution too attractive for them to pass up.
The public recognizes the problem and will likely support your efforts to address it. Recommendation: Pick 10 cities or states (red or blue) with the 10 worst crime statistics in the U.S. and invite their mayors and governors to the White House to explore potential collaboration between local and feds, all for the benefit of public safety. And while you’re at it, tie in the safety implications of those with “sanctuary” policies.
Make it all open to the public. Praise those who cooperate; let those who do not explain to their constituencies why spurning your initiatives is good for them.
Everything else. Common sense rules the day. You are the grand master of multitasking. For the myriad of issues you’ve already taken on, keep at it — but make it clear by action and words that your top priorities rule the day.
And in the same spirit, drop off fruitless or low-priority issues. Do we still want to annex Greenland? Canada? Intriguing idea — maybe someday — but don’t let them fester in Neverland. A timely decision to let something go is just as important as adding new ones.
Most important (and we know how tough this is for you), stay out of the mud, keep the high ground. Ignore the enticing aroma of retribution for years of abuse. You said it yourself during the presidential campaign — success is the sweetest form of retribution.
In any case, the voting public at large — excepting those terminally afflicted with Trump Derangement Syndrome — will support and admire course adjustments needed to keep building on success. The last thing they’ll want to do is change horses in 2026.
And for any voters who view you as a wrecking ball, just help them understand that you are their wrecking ball.
