Analysis of Promises Made and Kept by a Former President
It's a common practice for politicians to make promises during their campaigns, and a former president was no exception. However, the question that stands is whether he stayed true to his word. This article provides an analysis of the promises made during his campaign and how many he managed to deliver during his term.
A Recap of His Promises
During a rally in Detroit, the ex-president claimed that he had fulfilled all his campaign promises. Some of these included no taxation on tips or Social Security, imposing tariffs on foreign vehicles, and doing away with certain environmental rules.
On the surface, it seemed like he had accomplished a significant portion of his domestic agenda during his first year. This includes implementing strict immigration laws, withdrawing from some international organizations, and approving a tax and spending law.
Unfulfilled Promises
Despite his claims, many promises are yet to be fulfilled. In fact, about one-third of his pledges have not been realized due to lack of action in Congress, legal obstacles, or insufficient initiative from the White House. The former president has also made some compromises, including some that were part of his Detroit list.
His list of promises includes launching the largest domestic deportation operation in history, reducing grocery prices, closing the Education Department, and setting a temporary limit on credit card interest rates. It even includes some unusual pledges, like promoting research into flying cars.
Assessing Progress
There are five categories used to evaluate the progress made on these promises: Stalled, In the Works, Promise Kept, Promise Broken, and Compromise. These ratings are based on tangible outcomes, rather than intentions or efforts. The aim is not to judge the value of these promises, but to assess whether they have been kept or broken.
Promises Kept
It is estimated that about 19% of his promises were kept. One of them was executed on his first day in office when he pardoned the individuals involved in an assault on the U.S. Capitol. He also extended his 2017 tax cuts, thereby fulfilling his promise to taxpayers of all income levels.
Compromises Made
Three promises pertaining to taxes have been rated as Compromises. For instance, while he did promise to end taxes on Social Security for beneficiaries, his tax law only provided a substantial tax break for people over 65, and it did not eliminate the tax outright.
Promises In the Works
About 45% of his promises are currently In the Works. For example, legislation that enforces concealed carry reciprocity has been proposed by House Republicans, but it still has a long way to go before becoming law.
Broken Promises
One promise that was broken was his pledge to end the Ukraine-Russia war in 24 hours. Despite meeting with the presidents of both countries, a peace deal has yet to be established.
Stalled Promises
Approximately 31% of the promises are rated as Stalled. This includes his pledge to require proof of citizenship to vote and his promise to lower the price of everyday goods. While prices for some items have dropped, the cost of many goods and services, such as groceries, electricity, housing, and medical care, are higher than they were when he assumed office.