
One hundred days ago today, simply hours after taking the vow of workplace and reveling prior to a group of thousands at Funding One Field, Head of state Donald Trump authorized the initial exec orders of his 2nd term.
With the stroke of his pen, he preserved he might ice up ecological and various other firm laws Congress had actually licensed. With one more, he took out the united state from a worldwide environment contract.
” You’re seeing the dawn of the golden era of America,” he informed the barking group. “That’s what it’s mosting likely to be.”
On The Whole, he’s provided greater than 130 exec orders and a lot more memorandums, proclaimed at the very least 8 nationwide emergency situations and taken part in a face-off with the courts that has actually motivated argument on whether a constitutional dilemma is underway.

Head of state Donald Trump indications executive orders throughout an occasion at Funding One Field, component of the 60th inaugural events on January 20, 2025, in Washington, DC.
Jabin Botsford/ The Washington Blog Post through Getty Photos
Driving a lot of his activity is a lawful concept supported by traditionalists that the Constitution offers a head of state virtually undoubted control over the federal government.
Trump and his leading authorities additionally compete that he’s merely functioning to carry out the program that Americans elected in November.
However various other constitutional and lawful specialists that consulted with ABC Information call it exceptional overreach.
” This actually is unmatched,” Elizabeth Goitein, the elderly supervisor of the Brennan Facility’s Freedom and National Safety and security Program, informed ABC Information.
” We have actually seen actually wide concepts of executive power progressed in previous managements,” Goitein stated. “There’s been a stable pattern over the last couple of years in the direction of progressively wide sights of executive power, particularly after 9/11. However this is unmatched and it’s various in kind, not simply in level.”
Trump, in a current meeting with Time to note 100 days, differed.
” Well, I do not feel I’m broadening it,” Trump informed the publication when inquired about accumulating governmental power. “I believe I’m utilizing it as it was implied to be utilized.”
Trump’s ‘federal government by exec order’
Almost each day because Jan. 20, Trump has actually authorized executive activities in the Oval Workplace, commonly before tv video cameras. He’s authorized the best variety of exec orders in his initial 100 days of any type of head of state returning 88 years.
” He’s attempting to do federal government by exec order on an entire variety of concerns,” stated David Schultz, a constitutional legislation professional at Hamline College.
Adhering to Trump’s lead, his management has actually performed a significant cleanup of what Congress had actually established as independent firms, shooting 10s of hundreds of staff members, also those with public service defenses. He’s additionally looked for to erase variety, equity and incorporation (DEI) initiatives throughout the federal government.
Trump authorized an order to reduce the Division of Education and learning, with the best objective of cleaning away the firm developed by legislation. He’s attempted to efficiently finish due citizenship, which is preserved in the 14th Modification and has actually been promoted repetitively by the High court.

Head of state Donald Trump strolls down the pillars to the Oval Workplace after getting here on Marine One at the White Residence in Washington, April 27, 2025.
Ken Cedeno/Reuters
To move on with his migration and financial plans, Trump has actually proclaimed nationwide emergency situations that Goitein, a specialist on governmental emergency situation powers, stated are unjustified.
Regardless of boundary crossings being down, Trump conjured up the 1798 war time Alien Enemies Act to deport numerous Venezuelan travelers his management declared to be gang participants, managing them little to no due procedure.
He conjured up the 1977 International Emergency Situation Economic Powers Act in order to enforce sweeping tolls on basically all united state trading companions. Though it is Congress, not the head of state, that has the power to enforce tax obligations and control profession– and the emergency situation power utilized by Trump makes no reference of tolls.
Sometimes, he’s utilized the power of the presidency to seek vengeance on political challengers. Relatively in contrast to his guarantee to finish the “weaponization” of federal government and the justice system, he’s authorized orders targeting particular law practice that handled customers or instances he differed with politically. He guided the Justice Division to check out Chris Krebbs and Miles Taylor, 2 authorities from his initial term that have actually slammed him or tested his 2020 political election fallacies.
Trump’s toughest movie critics claim some activity borders on authoritarianism, noting his open regard for “strongman” leaders, consisting of China’s Head of state Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Hungary’s Viktor Orban.
” Occasionally you require a strongman,” Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity last September while marketing.
Pushback from the courts– yet not from Congress
” Our were visualizing that if a head of state attempted to do points similar to this, Congress would certainly action in,” stated Schultz. “And now, it resembles partisanship is extra effective than checks and equilibriums.”
Regardless of having Republican politician bulks (albeit slim ones) in your home and Us Senate, Trump has actually chosen to greatly go it alone on his program in his initial 100 days. Republican Politicians on Capitol Hillside, thus far, show up withdrawn or reluctant to seriously test him.
” We’re all terrified,” GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski, among minority Republican politicians to be important of Trump, informed her Alaskan components last month. Murkowski included that “revenge is actual.”
While legislative pushback has actually been marginal, a clear clash is underway in between the Trump management and the courts as different teams and people test his plans.
Trump has actually scolded courts that ruled versus him as “extreme left” and asked for Area Court James Boasberg’s impeachment. He and Vice Head of state JD Vance freely drifted the concept of not following reduced court orders– “He that conserves his Nation does not break any type of Regulation,” Trump uploaded on social media sites– however later on stated they would abide by choices from the High court.
Principal Justice John Roberts provided an uncommon declaration in rebuke of the unsupported claims– and though he really did not point out Trump by name, the context was clear.

A sight of the united state High Court in Washington, June 29, 2024.
Kevin Mohatt/Reuters
In a significant acceleration of the management’s standoff with the courts, the FBI recently apprehended a Milwaukee court, Hannah Dugan, and implicated her of blocking migration representatives. A lawyer for Dugan stated she will certainly “protect herself strongly and anticipates being vindicated.” White Residence press assistant Karoline Leavitt, when inquired about the event, exposed the opportunity of the Justice Division taking extra activity versus government courts and even High court justices if they were blocking the apprehension of any person thought of remaining in the nation unlawfully.
” He assumes he can either neglect or bully his means with,” Schultz stated of Trump’s pose towards the judiciary. “Therefore much, he’s obtained a blended document at ideal in regards to having the ability to do that.”
A number of lawful specialists and governmental scholars that spoke with ABC Information revealed issue that the courts will certainly end up being swamped by Trump’s steps as his 2nd term proceeds, and the system of checks and equilibriums will certainly remain to damage down.
” The splitting up of powers is most likely one of the most vital security that we have versus head of states ending up being kings,” stated Goitein. “If this is the brand-new typical, after that we can bid farewell to freedom.”