Donald Trump was categorical on his inauguration day, on January 20. "From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world. We will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer," he promised.
One hundred days later, the Republican, who inherited a healthy economy from his predecessor, has plunged it into a trade war as radical as it is haphazard, fueling fears of recession and inflation resurgence. After a complete U-turn on Ukraine, adopting much of Moscow's rhetoric, Washington seems unable to influence the course of a war that the president claimed he could end in 24 hours. The silence of the United States regarding the ongoing tragedy in Gaza, where Israel has unilaterally resumed a dreadful war, is equally alarming.
By methodically targeting his allies and abruptly ending crucial international aid for the world's poorest countries, the president of the United States now inspires discomfort and concern more than respect. In record time, he has profoundly damaged the US's image.
Trouble is also fueled by the pressure Trump exerts on his country's institutions. While he can boast about a drastic drop in the number of undocumented migrant entries, another of his campaign promises, the methods used to expel those deemed undesirable, grossly trample fundamental legal principles. He does not hesitate to use federal powers to intimidate perceived internal enemies, from lawyers to universities. Congress, where his party holds both chambers, passively accepts that the country is now governed largely by executive order.
Having condemned the excesses of progressive "wokeism," he now imposes another, marked by narrow-minded and vindictive conservatism. The disordered assault led by the world's richest man, Elon Musk, against state spending has yet to produce results other than chaos. Science is also now met with suspicion.
This chaotic interim track record has already resulted in a level of unpopularity that should serve as a wake-up call to an administration and a Republican Party of baffling servility. This unpopularity reflects Trump's excessive interpretation of a clear, though not overwhelming, reelection. The voters who brought him to power clearly did not subscribe to the project he is now trying to implement.
It is, however, unlikely that Trump will learn from the mistakes of his first one hundred days in office. The challenges he faces might instead push him to escalate, especially since he can rely on an unwavering base that has stood by him through every crisis. This stubbornness makes a discourse of truth about his presidency's missteps even more necessary, while drawing lessons from the November defeat. But alas, the Democratic Party, which should deliver it, seems currently incapable of it.
Translation of an original article published in French on lemonde.fr; the publisher may only be liable for the French version.