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From toppling Venezuela’s leader to ordering mass deportations, from turning once-independent government entities into rubber stamps to demolishing the White House’s East Wing to build a massive ballroom, President Donald Trump has spent his first year back in office trampling political norms and testing the nation’s institutional guardrails.
Some ideas that once seemed implausible — even fanciful — are now reality. Others, despite repeated boasts, remain stalled, legally dubious or quietly abandoned.
“I’ve kept all my promises and much more,” Trump said this week during a speech in Detroit.
As his administration approaches its one-year mark, Trump’s record reflects a presidency defined as much by disruption as by constraints — constitutional, legal, financial and political — that even an emboldened White House has struggled to overcome.
In progress: Big ambitions, uncertain outcomes
A new Qatari Air Force One
U.S. defense officials accepted a luxury Boeing 747 jet from Qatar in May for Trump’s eventual use as Air Force One, brushing aside ethical objections and constitutional anti-bribery concerns. The aircraft is being retrofitted in Texas to meet U.S. security standards, with the Air Force estimating costs at $400 million. Outside experts say the total could approach $1 billion.
Despite Trump’s claims the work would be finished within six months, officials now acknowledge the jet may not be ready before Trump leaves office in January 2029.
Annexing Greenland
After the U.S. military removed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump revived calls to take control of Greenland, declaring the U.S. would “have” the Danish territory “one way or another.” He named Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as a special envoy, invoking parallels to the 1803 Louisiana Purchase.
Denmark has rejected the idea outright, warning that any attempt to seize Greenland would have profound geopolitical consequences, particularly given Denmark’s NATO membership.
Autopen investigation
Trump has accused former President Joe Biden of improperly relying on an autopen to sign legislation and pardons — a practice used by multiple presidents, including Trump. A GOP-controlled House committee released a report in October alleging misuse, and Trump’s Justice Department has opened an investigation.
Reopening Alcatraz
Trump has floated reopening an “expanded and rebuilt” Alcatraz to house immigration detainees. The Bureau of Prisons says engineers are developing early designs and cost estimates, though no timeline or budget has been finalized.
50-year mortgages
The president has promoted extending mortgage terms from 30 to 50 years to ease housing affordability, a move economists say would undermine wealth-building. The White House has pledged to pursue the change but has made little progress, instead focusing on federal purchases of mortgage bonds to suppress interest rates.
A third term
Trump has repeatedly mused about serving a third term despite the Constitution’s clear prohibition. While he has acknowledged the legal barrier, he has continued to suggest the possibility of a future constitutional change — a notion dismissed by legal scholars and members of his own staff.
What’s faded away
Canada as the 51st state
Trump has periodically suggested annexing Canada, an idea Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney flatly rejected as unserious. While Trump still mentions it occasionally, Canadian officials say the president appears to have lost interest.
Fort Knox inspection
Trump once floated sending Elon Musk — and possibly himself — to Fort Knox to verify U.S. gold reserves. The plan never materialized, and Musk has since exited the administration.
Mass migrant transfers to Guantanamo
Trump pledged to send up to 30,000 migrants to Guantanamo Bay. At its peak, about 500 detainees were held there before numbers dwindled to zero amid high costs and legal challenges.
Gaza as a resort
Trump repeatedly suggested the U.S. could take over Gaza and transform it into a “Riviera of the Middle East.” Arab nations rejected the proposal, and Trump has stopped mentioning it amid fragile ceasefire negotiations.
Tariff rebate checks
The president has claimed tariffs could generate enough revenue to send Americans $2,000 checks. Last year’s $289 billion in tariff revenue falls far short of what such payments would cost, especially given competing promises to fund tax cuts, farm aid, defense spending and deficit reduction.
Ending the income tax
Trump has long argued tariffs could eliminate the federal income tax, pointing to the pre-income-tax era of the 1800s. Recently, his administration has pivoted toward promoting modest tax reductions instead.
Changing NFL kickoff rules
Trump’s campaign against the NFL’s dynamic kickoff rule has gone nowhere, with league officials showing no interest in reversing the change.
What’s been accomplished — at least in part
War Department revival
Trump signed an executive order renaming the Department of Defense as the Department of War, though congressional approval is required for the change to take legal effect.
Kennedy Center renaming
A Trump-aligned board voted to add the president’s name to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, prompting lawsuits and show cancellations. Because the center is named by statute, congressional approval is required for a lawful change.
Panama Canal pressure
Trump pressured China-linked port operators to sell holdings near the Panama Canal to a U.S. consortium. Panama withdrew from China’s Belt and Road initiative, and U.S. officials have increased security cooperation in the region.
“Gold card” visas
Trump unveiled a new immigration program offering legal status and a pathway to citizenship for individuals paying $1 million, replacing the EB-5 investor visa program.
White House ballroom
After demolishing the East Wing, construction crews are racing to complete a massive White House ballroom before Trump’s term ends. Costs have ballooned from $200 million to $400 million, according to Trump, who says private donors — including himself — are footing the bill. The White House has declined to fully disclose contributors, citing security concerns.
What comes next
Trump has continued to float potential U.S. military action in Colombia, Mexico and Iran, while warning Cuba is “ready to fall” following upheaval in Venezuela. He has also pushed for a $175 billion “Golden Dome” missile defense system, though defense officials say only limited capability is likely by 2029.
Even cultural ambitions remain on the list: Trump has pressed for Pete Rose’s induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame and has celebrated the revival of Rush Hour 4, reportedly at his urging.
As Trump’s second term moves forward, the gap between sweeping rhetoric and governing reality remains a defining feature — revealing both the reach of presidential power and its limits.
