What has Trump done in his first year in office?
(Baonghean.vn) - Only a few days left until the one-year anniversary of Mr. Trump's inauguration as the 45th President of the United States. What has the White House owner done in the first year of his term?
1.Pass the Tax Reduction Act
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| President Donald Trump signs the $1.5 trillion tax reform bill in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on December 22, 2017. Photo: AP |
The US House of Representatives on December 20, 2017 handed President Trump his first legislative victory when it approved a sweeping tax reform package proposed by the Republican Party, under which most Americans will get tax cuts starting next year.
The new law will reduce the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% and reduce personal taxes. Other key provisions of the tax law include: Reducing inheritance taxes; Expanding tax credits for families with children; Reducing taxes on foreign profits.
In addition, the new law also includes provisions allowing oil drilling in the Arctic National Monument in Alaska and eliminating tax penalties for US citizens who do not purchase insurance under ObamaCare regulations.
2.Practice limited government,support the spirit of capitalism
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| On February 24, 2017, US President Donald Trump signed another executive order in an effort to cut federal regulations that the White House owner said were burdening American businesses. |
Limited government is a governing principle of conservatives in the United States.According to this principle, Mr. Trump has:To make a provision that for every new regulation or law the government makes, two old regulations must be abolished;Repeal hundreds of Obama-era executive regulations, especially environmental barriers that have stalled America's construction and oil drilling industries;
Reduce 110 staff serving at the White House compared to the Obama era, saving 22 million USD in the 2017 budget;Cut tens of thousands of federal civil service positions;Prohibit retired civil servants from becoming lobbyists for a certain period of time;
The business community has been particularly encouraged by a year of Trump as president. Optimism about the economy has sent the US stock market soaring, unemployment falling and foreign capital flowing into the country following Trump’s visits.
3.Trumponomics helps US economy grow strongly for 2 consecutive quarters
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| The US economy grew strongly for two consecutive quarters despite the superstorms. Photo: BLOOMBERG NEWS |
President Trump's economic policies (also known as Trumponomics) have helped the US economy achieve results that economists once said were impossible.
According to new statistics released on November 3, 2017, the US gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 3% in the third quarter.This is the second consecutive quarter that GDP has met Mr. Trump's target.
The US economy grew 3.1% last quarter, its fastest pace in two years, a major victory for President Donald Trump, who has been repeatedly criticized by economists as unrealistic, if not impossible, for his 3% growth target.
4.Restore the army and strengthen domestic order
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| The 2018 US defense budget is expected to have a record increase. Source: AP |
Passed a record $700 billion budget package for the US military;Committed to building the United States military to ensure its position as the strongest in the world and to achieving “peace through strength”;
Set the goal of making the US military so strong that it “never has to be used”;Continue to affirm support for the military, carry out legal reforms to better care for veterans;
Showing respect to Iran, North Korea, Russia, and China; restoring respect for the US military abroad, which was severely damaged under Obama;
Tightening immigration regulations reduced the number of illegal border crossings into the United States by 70% compared to 2016. Border Patrol agents made more than 300,000 arrests nationwide and deported more than 200,000 illegal immigrants;
Signed executive order to speed up construction of border wall with Mexico. Congress has approved the first $1 billion funding package for wall construction and wall templates have been built.
5. Destroy the Islamic State (IS)
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| Iraqi army parades in celebration. Photo: Reuters |
The terrorists were driven out of the territory they once occupied.Since taking office, Mr. Trump has empowered US military generals to proactively increase troops and equipment to determine to destroy IS in Iraq and Syria.
In October 2017, CIA Director Mike Pompeo said that the fight against IS in eight months had brought about more results than eight years under the Obama administration.
Accordingly, on November 3, 2017, the Syrian government announced the defeat of IS in the last stronghold of this rebel group in Syria, Deir ez-Zor;On November 17, 2017, the Iraqi army announced the liberation of Rawa - the last city occupied by IS in Iraq;On December 9, 2017, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi officially declared the three-year war with IS to end.
6.Announcing the new national security strategy
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| US President Donald Trump speaks at the White House on December 18. Photo: AFP/ VNA |
On December 18, 2017, President Trump announced his new national security strategy in which he outlined goals for military modernization, economic development, and the adversaries the United States will face.
In this strategy, the US government clearly points out that Russia and China are "rival powers" and "revisionist power” - countries that want to shape the world in ways that are antithetical to American values and interests.
What sets this new national security strategy apart from previous administrations is that it highlights trade and economic issues. Mr. Trump emphasizes economic security as national security.
