Trump enters election year with big wins — and bigger political headwinds
As he doubles down on a sweeping policy agenda, a growing number of Republicans worry rising costs and perceived overreach could dent support ahead of midterm elections.
President Donald Trump entered the election year riding a sweeping policy blitz that expanded presidential power and reshaped U.S. relations abroad, even as his grip on the Republican Party shows signs of strain.
In his first year back in the White House, Trump cut the size of the federal civilian workforce, dismantled and closed government agencies, slashed humanitarian aid to foreign countries, ordered sweeping immigration raids and deportations, and sent National Guard troops into Democratic-run cities. He also launched trade wars by imposing tariffs on goods from most countries, pushed through a large tax-and-spending package, prosecuted political enemies, canceled or restricted access to some vaccines, and attacked universities, law firms, and media outlets.
On foreign policy, Trump has asserted he would end the Ukraine war on the first day of his second term and has claimed to have ended eight wars, a position widely disputed by analysts who note ongoing conflicts in several hotspots. Despite the rhetoric, progress toward durable peace remains unclear to many observers.
All modern presidents seek to expand presidential power, but historians say Trump has increased executive authority at a rate rarely seen before. He has used executive orders and emergency declarations to shift decision-making away from Congress and toward the White House. The Supreme Court’s conservative majority has largely sided with him, and the Republican-controlled Congress has offered limited resistance. Unlike his first term, Trump appears to have near-total control over his cabinet, which is stocked with loyalists.
Donald Trump has wielded power with fewer restraints in the last 11 months than any president since Franklin Roosevelt, said Timothy Naftali, a presidential historian. Naftali noted that Roosevelt faced large congressional majorities and public support for Great Depression-era reforms, factors that helped his push for expansive government action. Analysts emphasize that while Trump can claim a string of domestic wins, the political environment in 2025 is different: inflation and living costs have become persistent concerns for voters, even as many Republicans rally behind the president’s broader agenda.
Polls reflect a mounting challenge for Trump as he heads into what will be a difficult political year. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found his approval at 39%, near the low end of his current term, with many voters souring on the economy and on concerns that the administration has stretched presidential power too far. That sentiment threatens to complicate the party’s effort to defend sitting lawmakers and win seats in a Congress that could determine how far his legislative priorities can travel.
Some Republicans worry that the administration’s focus on cost-of-living pressures could undermine the party’s standing, particularly in swing districts where voters are concerned about inflation and taxes. A Republican with close ties to the White House, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged that inflation is a persistent drag and said the party must remind voters that a full four-year term is needed to achieve lasting results.
"We have to remind voters they need to give the president a full four years," the official said. The comment underscores a wary mood among some GOP lawmakers who fear that public discontent about prices could complicate midterm outcomes and threaten the party’s ability to defend seats in November.
Looking ahead, Trump aides say lowering inflation is a priority from day one of the new year, a message they plan to carry in a series of speeches aimed at convincing voters he has a credible plan to ease costs, even though he is not on the ballot in November. A spokesman said the administration will keep hammering on the economy while pursuing its broader agenda, including deregulation and a tough stance on immigration.
As the year unfolds, analysts say the trajectory of Trump’s power will hinge on his ability to translate early policy wins into durable political momentum and to navigate intra-party tensions as Republicans balance loyalty to the president with the risks of electoral backlash. The outcome of the midterms could either blunt or amplify the changes he has already set in motion, with far-reaching implications for both domestic policy and U.S. relations abroad.