Achievements of the Trump Administration (2016–2020)

No New International Conflicts

• Peace through Strength: During Trump’s presidency, the United States did not initiate any new wars or military interventions. His administration prioritized de-escalating foreign conflicts through diplomacy and negotiation.
  • Trump became the first U.S. president in decades to avoid initiating a major international military conflict.
  • Withdrawal from Endless Wars: Efforts were made to bring troops home from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria.
  • In 2019, Trump ordered the withdrawal of a significant number of troops from Syria after ISIS was declared largely defeated, signaling a shift toward restraint in foreign military action.
  • Negotiated the Abraham Accords (2020): Landmark agreements normalized relations between Israel and multiple Arab nations, including the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, fostering greater stability in the Middle East.
  • Opened historic dialogue with North Korea, reducing hostilities between the two nations. Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to step into North Korea during a 2019 summit with Kim Jong-un.

Energy Independence and Domestic Energy Production

• America First Energy Policy: The Trump administration prioritized domestic energy production to reduce dependence on foreign oil and achieve energy independence.
  • The U.S. became the world’s largest producer of oil and natural gas during Trump’s tenure.
  • Expanded oil drilling, including opening federal lands and offshore waters to exploration.
  • Approved the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines, boosting the energy infrastructure and job creation in the energy sector.
  • Rolled back numerous restrictive environmental regulations that hindered domestic energy companies, such as portions of the Clean Power Plan.
  • Under Trump, the United States became a net energy exporter for the first time since 1952.
• Energy production growth led to a significant drop in energy costs for American households and businesses, boosting economic productivity.

Promotion of Domestic Manufacturing and Businesses

• Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017): Trump’s tax reform significantly reduced the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, making the United States more competitive globally.
  • Small businesses benefited from tax reductions, increased deductions, and incentives for reinvestment.
  • The lower corporate tax rate encouraged companies to bring operations and capital back to the United States, stimulating growth.
• Manufacturing Renaissance:
  • Trump prioritized reviving domestic manufacturing through trade policies and deregulation.
  • The “America First” strategy incentivized companies to establish factories and production facilities in the U.S.
  • During Trump’s first three years, the economy added 500,000 manufacturing jobs, reversing years of decline in the sector.
• Deregulation Efforts:
  • The Trump administration eliminated over 1,500 unnecessary regulations that burdened businesses. For every new regulation, seven were removed.
  • Deregulation particularly benefited small businesses and industries like energy, construction, and manufacturing.

Economic Growth and Record-Breaking Markets

• GDP Growth: The Trump administration achieved robust GDP growth, averaging over 2.5% annually during the first three years (before the COVID-19 pandemic).
  • In 2018, GDP growth reached 2.9%, the fastest since 2005.
• Record-High Stock Market:
  • The Dow Jones Industrial Average reached multiple record highs under Trump’s economic policies, reflecting strong investor confidence.
  • The stock market rallied due to tax cuts, deregulation, and business-friendly policies, benefiting retirement accounts and pensions.
• Low Unemployment Rates:
  • Before the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment reached a 50-year low of 3.5% in February 2020.
  • Unemployment rates for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans hit all-time lows under Trump’s leadership.
  • Wages grew steadily, particularly for blue-collar and low-income workers.

Fairer Trade Agreements and Policies

• America First Trade Policy: Trump took bold actions to renegotiate trade agreements to benefit American workers and industries.
  • USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) replaced NAFTA, creating a more favorable trade deal for American farmers, manufacturers, and workers.
    • The agreement required higher wage standards and incentivized domestic production of automobiles and other goods.
  • China Trade Deal (Phase 1): Trump imposed tariffs to address trade imbalances and forced China to agree to purchase more American agricultural and industrial products.
  • Withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which Trump argued would harm American manufacturing.
  • Imposed tariffs on steel, aluminum, and other foreign imports to protect domestic industries from unfair competition.

Criminal Justice Reform

• First Step Act (2018): A landmark bipartisan criminal justice reform law that:
  • Reduced mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent offenders.
  • Provided more opportunities for rehabilitation and job training for incarcerated individuals.
  • Resulted in the release of thousands of low-level, non-violent offenders.
  • This reform addressed inequities in sentencing, particularly for minorities.

Investment in Infrastructure and Military

• Trump increased investments in rebuilding America’s infrastructure and modernizing the military.
  • Authorized over $1 trillion in infrastructure funding, including projects to improve roads, bridges, airports, and public transportation systems.
  • Strengthened the military with increased defense budgets, ensuring readiness and modernization of the armed forces.

Focus on Immigration Reform

• Trump’s administration prioritized border security and immigration enforcement:
  • Construction of over 450 miles of border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
  • Policies like Remain in Mexico and stricter asylum laws aimed to reduce illegal immigration.
  • Enhanced enforcement of existing immigration laws to protect American jobs and communities.

COVID-19 Response and Economic Resilience

• Despite the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Trump’s administration took decisive actions to mitigate economic fallout:
  • Operation Warp Speed facilitated the rapid development of multiple COVID-19 vaccines in record time.
  • Passed the CARES Act, a $2.2 trillion relief package that provided direct financial aid to Americans, businesses, and healthcare systems.
  • Delivered stimulus checks to millions of Americans and introduced the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to protect small businesses.

Conclusion

The Trump administration’s tenure from 2016–2020 saw numerous achievements, including fostering energy independence, revitalizing domestic manufacturing, avoiding new foreign conflicts, and promoting economic growth. Policies like the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, USMCA, and deregulation provided a significant boost to American businesses and workers. Trump’s emphasis on “America First” positioned the United States to become stronger economically, with a focus on domestic prosperity and job creation.

No New International Conflicts

• Trump prioritized diplomacy, avoiding new wars during his presidency.
  Learn more about Trump’s foreign policy.

Energy Independence and Domestic Energy Production

• The U.S. became a net energy exporter, leading the world in oil and natural gas production.
  Read about America’s Energy Independence.

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017)

• Reduced corporate taxes and provided relief for businesses and workers.
  Details on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

USMCA Agreement

• Replaced NAFTA with a better deal for American farmers, workers, and businesses.
  USMCA Agreement Overview.

Deregulation Policies

• Cut unnecessary regulations, promoting business growth and job creation.
  White House Deregulation Initiative.

Record Economic Growth

• The U.S. economy saw strong GDP growth pre-pandemic, with low unemployment rates.
  U.S. Economic Data.

Stock Market Records

• The Dow Jones and S&P 500 reached record highs during Trump’s term.
  Market Performance Data.

Manufacturing Job Growth

• Added over 500,000 manufacturing jobs during Trump’s first three years.
  U.S. Manufacturing Statistics.

Abraham Accords

• Historic peace agreements between Israel and multiple Arab nations.
  Details on the Abraham Accords.

First Step Act (2018)

• A major bipartisan criminal justice reform law.
  Read about the First Step Act.

Border Security

• Built over 450 miles of the border wall to curb illegal immigration.
  Border Security Achievements.

Trade Policies with China

• Negotiated Phase 1 of the trade deal to address trade imbalances.
  China Trade Agreement.

Criminal Justice Reform

• Addressed sentencing disparities and improved rehabilitation programs.
  Justice Reform Highlights.

COVID-19 Response

• Operation Warp Speed accelerated vaccine development.
  Learn about Operation Warp Speed.

Unemployment at Record Lows

• Pre-pandemic, unemployment hit a 50-year low of 3.5%.
  Bureau of Labor Statistics Unemployment Data.

Small Business Support

• Tax cuts and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) helped small businesses thrive.
  PPP Program Overview.

Focus on American Workers

• Policies prioritized jobs for Americans through economic incentives and trade deals.
  Trump’s American Workforce Policies.

Military Modernization

• Increased defense funding to rebuild and modernize the U.S. military.
  Defense Budget Overview.

Infrastructure Investment

• Authorized funding for infrastructure improvements across the country.
  Trump’s Infrastructure Plan.

Energy Jobs Creation

• Expanding oil, gas, and renewable energy sectors created thousands of jobs.
  U.S. Energy Employment Report.

References:

• The White House Archives
• Bureau of Economic Analysis
• U.S. Energy Information Administration
• Congressional Budget Office
• Abraham Accords Fact Sheet