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One year ago, President Donald Trump joined an exclusive club within an exclusive club, standing alongside President Grover Cleveland as the only president in American history to lose a reelection bid and then reclaim the presidency four years later.
Sixty-five days after winning back the presidency, Trump returned to Washington to attend the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter. He returned to the Capitol, not as a former president or a felon, but as a conqueror of the city that had abandoned him four years earlier.
On Jan. 20, he completed the greatest comeback in American political history and became the 47th president. In the four years since leaving the White House on Marine One, he had repeatedly blamed Democrats for what he called a stolen election, unchecked immigration at the southern border, rapid inflation and a long list of other national issues. For four years, he essentially promised Americans, “Elect me, and these problems will be fixed.”
As the chief justice read Trump the Presidential Oath of Office, the opportunity to prove it had come. But as former President George W. Bush once said, the Oval Office is round for a reason, there are no corners to hide in.
Trump repeatedly asked the American people to give him time to carry out his agenda and deliver on the promises he made during the campaign. Now, one year after his historic victory, we must ask, is the U.S. better off today than it was one year ago?
One of Trump’s top priorities has been curbing illegal immigration, and he’s seen success so far. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. saw the lowest fiscal year apprehensions for the border patrol since 1970. This drop can be attributed to the combination of Trump’s pressure to crack down on illegal immigration and additional resources his administration has implemented. The Washington Post reported in October that a quarter of FBI agents are currently assigned to immigration enforcement.
For Trump, cracking down on illegal immigration has surprisingly been one of his strongest footing with the American people. According to conservative polling data aggregator RealClearPolling, 49.3% disapprove of his handling of illegal immigration while 48.8% approve of his handling.
Trump can also attribute much of his historic comeback to the economy. Yet, many Americans are dissatisfied with the economy under his watch. According to RealClearPolling’s averages, 54.9% of Americans are not happy with the economy.
This is troubling news for the Trump administration as it heads towards the 2026 midterms. When it comes to winning political elections, as James Carville famously said, “It’s the economy, stupid.”
The question remains, is the U.S. better off today than it was a year ago? In my opinion, the answer depends on who you are and what stage of life you are in. If your number one issue was cracking down on illegal immigration, you may say yes. However, many Americans — myself included — understand the issue of illegal immigration, yet remain uneasy about the methods the Trump administration has used to achieve its agenda.
As a college student, my focus is on the economy. Has the price of groceries gone down? If you listened to the president, you’d think the answer is yes, but actually, according to CNN, average grocery prices this September were 2.7% higher than they were in September 2024. Has changing the president made it easier on millions of young Americans to buy a home? Right now, the answer is no.
If Trump continues to focus on renovating the White House instead of focusing on lowering the cost of living for millions of Americans, the Republican Party will face significant headwinds in the upcoming 2026 midterms.
Parker Duncan is a 23-year-old law student at the UF Levin College of Law.
