Trump’s Broken Promises

The Broken Promises of Donald Trump Since His Last Election

Donald Trump’s return to the White House has been marked by a series of ambitious pledges—many of which have not materialized, echoing a pattern established during his first term. From economic relief to sweeping policy changes, several of Trump’s most publicized promises have either stalled, proved unfeasible, or been outright broken. Below is a detailed look at some of the most notable broken promises since his last election.

Escalation, Not Resolution

Instead of achieving peace, Trump’s second term has seen a dramatic escalation of conflict in the Middle East. Hostilities between Israel and Iran have intensified, with both sides engaging in direct military strikes. Trump has not only failed to broker peace but has also openly considered U.S. military involvement alongside Israel, including potential strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. This stance starkly contrasts with his campaign message of restraint and diplomacy.

Contradictory Actions and Rhetoric

While Trump continues to publicly call for an end to the conflict—stating, “this war in Israel-Iran should end” after a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin—his administration’s actions suggest a readiness to support military escalation. He has issued warnings to Iran’s leadership and has not ruled out direct American strikes, despite previously advocating for diplomatic solutions

Lowering Grocery Prices and the Cost of Living

Trump campaigned on the promise that grocery prices would “come down dramatically and fast.” However, after taking office, he admitted the challenge was far greater than anticipated, and his administration has not delivered any significant relief. Internal efforts to address the issue failed to produce viable solutions, and inflation has continued to impact everyday Americans123.

Prescription Drug Prices

Contrary to his pledge to lower healthcare costs, Trump reversed a Biden-era policy that had capped and reduced prescription drug prices. This move has led to higher drug costs for American families and has been widely criticized as favoring pharmaceutical companies over the public13.

Ending the War in Ukraine

Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine on his first day in office. This pledge remains unfulfilled, as the conflict continues without resolution. Analysts have pointed out that such promises were unrealistic given the complex geopolitical realities involved13.

Repealing “Electric Vehicle Mandates”

Trump vowed to overturn what he called Biden’s “electric vehicle mandate.” However, no such federal mandate existed, making the promise largely rhetorical and impossible to fulfill. This is one of several instances where Trump’s pledges targeted policies that were either exaggerated or fabricated13.

Ending Birthright Citizenship

Trump pledged to override the Constitution to end birthright citizenship. Legal experts and constitutional scholars have universally dismissed this as beyond the president’s authority. Attempts to enact such a change have not advanced, rendering the promise broken1.

Banning Critical Race Theory (CRT) in the Military

Another campaign promise was to ban CRT from military training. However, CRT is not a component of military instruction, making this another hollow declaration with no practical effect1.

Solving the Opioid Crisis

Trump claimed he would solve America’s opioid crisis on his first day in office. The nation, however, continues to grapple with record-high overdose rates, and no comprehensive solution has materialized1.

Imposing Tariffs on Canada and Mexico

He promised to impose a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico, yet this measure has not been enacted. Such a move would likely destabilize key economic relationships, and there has been no legislative or executive action to fulfill this pledge1.

Banning Sanctuary Cities and the Green New Deal

Trump pledged to ban sanctuary cities by sending a bill to Congress, but no such bill has been drafted. He also promised to “ban the Green New Deal,” despite the fact that the policy has never been adopted at the federal level1.

Restoring Energy Independence

Trump claimed he would restore energy independence, but U.S. energy production had already reached historic highs under the previous administration. There has been no marked change attributable to his policies1.

Border Wall and Mexico Paying for It

One of Trump’s most famous promises was to build a wall along the southern border and have Mexico pay for it. While some new barriers were constructed, these largely replaced existing structures, and Mexico did not pay for the wall. The promise remains unfulfilled456.

Affordable Housing and Job Creation

Trump also promised to make housing more affordable and to accelerate job creation. Instead, housing costs have continued to rise, job creation has slowed, and inflation has persisted at around 3 percent2.

Conclusion

The record of Donald Trump’s broken promises since his last election underscores the challenges of translating campaign rhetoric into policy reality. Many of his pledges—whether related to economic relief, foreign policy, or sweeping legislative changes—have either stalled, been deemed unfeasible, or failed to materialize altogether. As his presidency continues, the gap between promise and performance remains a defining feature of his administration123.

Sources:

1. https://themadisontimes.themadent.com/article/trumps-broken-promises-pile-up-as-day-one-pledges-falter/
2. https://www.aft.org/trumps-broken-promises-working-people
3. https://sdvoice.info/trumps-broken-promises-pile-up-as-day-one-pledges-falter/
4. https://www.politifact.com/article/2020/jan/13/promises-kept-broken-stalled-latest-trump-o-meter-/
5. https://rjionline.org/reporting/promises-promises-heres-where-politifact-says-trump-stands-after-nearly-100-days/
6. https://www.dcreport.org/2020/10/29/five-really-big-promises-trump-has-not-kept/
7. https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/trumpometer/?ruling=true
8. https://www.politifact.com/article/2023/oct/26/did-donald-trump-make-these-27-campaign-promises-f/
9. https://apnews.com/projects/trump-campaign-promise-tracker/
10. https://pennsylvaniaindependent.com/politics/president-donald-trump-2016-2024-promises-failures/