U.S. President Donald Trump has marked his first 100 days in office. Ever since Franklin Delano Roosevelt passed dozens of bills in a whirlwind period, 100 days has served as a marker for presidential achievement. For Trump, that period has been "one of the most successful ever"; for most observers, however, it has been an abject lesson in the reality of governing. Whatever the verdict, Trump has transformed the presidency of the United States — and it has changed him.
FDR passed 76 bills in his first 100 days, 15 of them considered to be "major legislation." Trump has passed 29 bills — 11 of which overturn Obama-era regulations, such as rules about the internet and social security, and four others are ceremonial and rename memorials and veterans health care facilities — and 30 executive orders, which mainly authorize studies and lay a foundation for future action.
The contrast is even stronger given Trump's pledge to hit the ground running. His campaign produced a contract with 28 things he would do within his first 100 days; none of the 10 pieces of legislation that he promised has been passed, although he did sign some of the executive orders (and several were scaled back or canceled). He put his nominee on the Supreme Court bench, a signal achievement, but few presidents have even had that opportunity.
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