7 promises Trump fed you since taking office — only for them to sink faster than his 11 bankruptcies
Donald Trump and his administration work so tirelessly that it’s hard to keep up with every new lie they advertise. By now, Trump’s promises have their own cinematic universe. We had a dramatic trailer, a big soundtrack, but zero plot resolution.
A presidency must be measured not by rallies or slogans, but by what changes for ordinary people. By that standard, Trump’s scorecard is unforgiving. The pledges that won him votes have withered with astonishing speed as he wraps up the first year of his second term. But the tragedy isn’t that the promises were broken. It’s that millions believed them, and continue to do so.
We can’t change the past, but we can stir the American consciousness from falling into the Trump trap again. Here are seven of his major promises that he failed to deliver in a whole year. Because in politics, patterns matter more than punchlines.
1. “Make America affordable again”
Affordability has been the number one concern for Americans, so Trump decided to market it in his 20 Core Promises. He promised to bring down housing, energy, drug, and grocery costs. But what did Americans get at the end of the year? “Affordability is a Democrat scam” slapped onto their faces. Trump keeps bragging about fake numbers while people continue to struggle with choosing between basics and basics.
2. “End the weaponization of the DOJ and the government”
In his inaugural speech on Jan. 20, Trump claimed that “the vicious, violent, and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department and our government” will now end. But as he settled into the White House, he decided otherwise. Trump repeatedly used the DoJ to fulfill his personal vendettas and brutally weaponized the ICE against Americans. The result? A justice system that Americans trust even less.
3. “Protect Medicaid/ Federal benefits with no cuts”
Trump has repeatedly vowed to “Save Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security without cuts.” But his “One Big Beautiful Bill” directly attacked Medicaid spending, slashing health coverage for millions. (via ABC News) The administration quietly advanced budget rollbacks and cost-reallocation proposals that directly endanger health and social programs. And he called it “reform,” instead of “reduce,” the oldest trick in fiscal politics.
4. “Negotiating an end to the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours”
During his 2024 campaign, Trump claimed he would end the Russia-Ukraine war “in 24 hours” upon taking office. It was a showstopper. But what happened after he took office? He conveniently backed away from the 24-hour deadline claim (via AP News). Trump probably thought global war was like a real estate deal: two signatures and everyone goes home. But reality hit him hard. After 11 months, a peace deal is finally in its last stage to end the war.
5. “Dismantle Censorship & Protect Free Speech”
After winning the elections, Trump also made an illustrious promise to “stop all government censorship and bring back free speech.” But as soon as this free speech began threatening his political narratives, Trump slapped the nation’s press with threats. Soon, people had to remind him of the very First Amendment that he promised to protect. But his war against free speech continues.
6. “Reverse the Inflation crisis”
Trump has been enthusiastically promising to reverse the Biden-era inflation crisis since the beginning of his campaign. And he claims to have achieved it, citing fake numbers at every other press event. Inflation is obviously down since COVID ended, running around 3% annually versus more than 9% at its peak under Biden. But basic items like food, imported goods, and hardware remain pricier year-over-year (via Reuters). If reversing inflation means families can eat and live without fear, the crisis didn’t reverse; it rebranded.
“Make Washington D.C. the Safest and Most Beautiful Capital City”
Speaking at his rallies, Trump has reiterated his pledge to make Washington, D.C., the “safest capital city in the world” several times. He even claimed to have achieved this in the recent Thanksgiving Turkey-pardon ceremony. But the city remains among the places with the highest violent crime and property crime rates in the U.S. itself. Recently, two National Guardsmen were shot down in the city. So, his poetic pledge remains another item in the cabinet of vanished promises.
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