From:
https://en.sedaily.com/international/2026/01/05/20-achievements-of-trumps-second-term-first-yearPresident Donald Trump has compiled a significant record of achievements during the first year of his second term. Having previously introduced ten accomplishments from the president's first year in office, I now expand this to 20. The list proceeds in reverse order from 20th place, with rankings 11 through 20 listed briefly before detailed explanations of the top ten.
20. Retribution for the Abbey Gate bombing near Kabul airport in Afghanistan
19. Creation of "Trump Accounts" to provide trust funds for all American children
18. Virtual halt to illegal immigration
17. New trade agreements using tariff threats as leverage
16. Bringing elite universities to heel
15. Protecting women's sports against radical gender ideology
14. Abolition of collective bargaining rights for one million federal employees
13. Repeal of Biden-era electric vehicle mandate policies
12. Enhanced security in Washington through National Guard deployment
11. Major tax cuts on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security benefits
10. Cracking down on Chinese influence over the Panama Canal
Under Trump's pressure, the Panamanian government replaced Huawei telecommunications infrastructure installed in 13 regions with secure American technology, withdrew from China's Belt and Road Initiative, and terminated contracts with a Hong Kong-based port facility management company.
9. $156 billion increase in defense budget
Trump launched his second military buildup as part of "One Big Beautiful Bill," including funding for the "Golden Dome" defense shield to protect America from ballistic missile attacks. This lays the groundwork for realizing the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) vision presented by President Ronald Reagan. However, keeping the campaign promise of "peace through strength" requires further increases in regular defense spending.
8. Abolition of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Abolishing the independent USAID has been a consistent goal pursued by conservatives since the 1990s. While Congress must act for permanent closure, Trump transferred USAID functions to the State Department and eliminated wasteful programs to ensure American aid decisions support U.S. foreign policy objectives.
7. Resolution of the recruitment crisis
The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force, which experienced severe recruitment difficulties during the Biden administration, all met or exceeded their 2025 targets, with many achieving recruitment goals months ahead of schedule.
6. Sinking dozens of Venezuelan drug boats
Trump deployed the largest naval assets to the Caribbean since the Panama invasion and is eliminating speedboats and submarines used by drug terrorists.
5. Strong response to persecution of Nigerian Christians
Trump warned that U.S. military forces would be deployed to Nigeria to "deliver a fierce attack" to eliminate Islamic terrorists involved in the mass killing of Christians. On Christmas Day, multiple strikes were conducted against Islamic State (IS) strongholds in northwestern Nigeria.
4. Greatest peace-building achievement in American history
Trump intervened in conflicts between India and Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, Cambodia and Thailand, and Armenia and Azerbaijan, achieving progress toward lasting peace. He ended the Israel-Iran war in 12 days and mediated negotiations for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire and release of all remaining hostages on both sides. He contributed to preventing conflicts between Kosovo and Serbia and between Egypt and Ethiopia, and brought Kazakhstan into the Abraham Accords. While facing difficulties in brokering a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, these achievements represent an unprecedented record worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize.
3. More Ukraine support than Biden
Trump is sending billions of dollars worth of new weapons to Ukraine paid for by Europe rather than American taxpayers, along with intelligence needed to strike military targets on Russian soil. He is also offering Ukraine collective security guarantees similar to NATO Article 5 as part of a tentative peace deal.
2. Pressuring NATO members to increase defense spending
Today all allies plan to spend 2% of GDP on defense. At the successful NATO summit in the Netherlands, Trump secured an agreement to raise allied defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035—double the previous commitment.
1. Complete neutralization of Iran's nuclear program
Four presidents promised to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, but only Trump took decisive action to stop it. "Operation Midnight Hammer" using B-2 bombers will likely be considered the most important and courageous foreign policy decision in the past 50 years.
