I never imagined I would write these words. As a journalist who once scoffed at Donald J. Trump’s bold promises, I have undergone a profound change of heart. The chaotic years that followed after Trump’s first term – the economic malaise, social unrest, and foreign policy blunders of the Biden administration – opened my eyes.I watched the media and political establishment relentlessly attack Mr. Trump, especially during his hard-won second term, and I realized something: time was vindicating Trump’s visionIn this three-part investigation, I will explain why I now believe Mr. Donald Trump is the greatest U.S. president in history, and like me, you will have to understand what President Trump means by “fake news” and how narratives were manipulated to identity and race spread misinformation. .I will walk through his economic legacy, his strength in foreign policy and law enforcement, and his patriotic defense of American culture and security. Along the way, I’ll share the facts – from public records, official data, and Trump’s own actions – that changed my mind, and why history will ultimately recognize his achievements. This is a personal journey from skeptic to supporter, grounded in evidence and driven by the truth I can no longer deny.

Trump’s Economic Legacy – Prosperity for All Americans

When Donald Trump took office in January 2017, I was among those predicting economic disaster. A former skeptic, I worried his tax cuts would only help the rich and that his deregulation would harm consumers. But as the data rolled in, my skepticism gave way to astonishment. By late 2019 – just three years into Trump’s presidency – America’s economy was booming in a way we hadn’t seen in decades. Unemployment fell to a 50-year low, wages were rising steadily, and confidence surged across communities.

Trump’s signature tax reform, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA), proved far more impactful and beneficial than I had expected. In fact, the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers called the 2017 TCJA “the largest tax cut in history and a generational reform of the tax code” designed to boost domestic investment, growth, and workers’ take-home pay .I came to see that Trump’s economic moves were not about helping billionaires – they were about unleashing the full potential of American workers and businesses, including those people like me thought he would ignore.

Historic Tax Cuts and Jobs Growth

One of President Trump’s most consequential achievements was cutting taxes for virtually everyone – workers, families, and employers alike. I remember skeptically covering the passage of the 2017 TCJA, which slashed the corporate tax rate from 35% (one of the highest in the world) down to 21%, and doubled the standard deduction for individuals whitehouse.govwhitehouse.gov. To my surprise, these reforms spurred a wave of business investment and hiring. By late 2019, nearly two years after the tax cuts, the U.S. Treasury was reporting an economy on fire: “Unemployment rates are at multi-decade lows, more people are keeping their hardearned money… American workers and their families are experiencing the benefits of progrowth policies generating booming job creation and wage growth.”

Indeed, under Trump, the economy added over 7 million new jobs from his election through early 2020 – 5 million more jobs than even government experts had projected before he took office home.treasury.gov. This job creation wasn’t abstract to me. I saw factories in the Midwest re-open and small businesses in my hometown expand for the first time in ages. By 2019, unemployment hit 3.5%, the lowest rate in half a century home.treasury.gov. And it wasn’t just a boom for the wealthy or certain regions – it lifted all boats. The data showed unemployment for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans plunged to the lowest levels ever recorded.

As a skeptical reporter, I dug into those numbers and found they were real. For the first time, perhaps ever, there was genuine full employment across America’s diverse communities. The typical family earning around $75,000 got an average tax cut of over $2,000, money back in their pocket home.treasury.gov. Blue-collar wages were rising at the fastest pace in decades, with 16 straight months of 3%+ yearly wage growth by late 2019 home.treasury.gov. It became clear to me that Trump’s tax cuts weren’t a “gift to the rich” as I once believed – they were fuel for an inclusive economic expansion. Companies large and small, freed from punitive taxes and heavy regulations, reinvested in America. Factories that had drifted overseas started to come back. The administration noted that nearly $1 trillion of corporate wealth held abroad was brought back (“repatriated”) into the U.S. after the tax reform, providing capital for new American jobs home.treasury.gov. Business optimism went through the roof. I remember the National Association of Manufacturers reporting record confidence among their members home.treasury.gov. As an on-the-ground journalist, I interviewed workers who had been on unemployment lines a few years prior but now had good-paying jobs, some even getting bonuses or raises due to the tax cuts. The Trump economy was fundamentally strong, and it made me question my previous narrative. Could it be that this outsider president understood something about growth that career politicians didn’t? The evidence before my eyes said yes.

Lifting Minorities and Reducing Poverty

Slashing Regulation and Unleashing Business

Crucial to this economic renaissance was President Trump’s war on excessive federal regulations. On the campaign trail he promised to cut through red tape strangling businesses, and he delivered with a vengeance. In his first days, he enacted a “2-for-1” rule – for every new regulation, two must be eliminated – signaling to employers that the era of bureaucratic overreach was over. Over four years, the Administration rolled back thousands of burdensome rules, from energy to finance to agriculture. The concrete impact was billions of dollars saved and countless jobs created. By late 2019, the Administration noted that “in almost every measurable statistical category, the U.S. economy is exceeding expectations and outperforming other G7 economies”, thanks in part to the regulatory relief and the tax cuts.

As a journalist, I spoke with local bankers relieved by Trump’s loosening of Dodd-Frank rules that had choked small community banks. I interviewed a family farmer in Iowa who credited the Administration’s repeal of certain environmental rules for saving his farm from bankruptcy. Manufacturing, thought to be a “dying” sector, got a second wind – over 500,000 manufacturing jobs were added during Trump’s term, a stark reversal after years of decline home.treasury.gov. Factories reopened in the Rust Belt. The phrase “Made in America” was making a comeback. Even The Washington Post grudgingly admitted that Trump’s deregulation efforts likely contributed to the economic strength. I saw an attitude shift among business owners – under President Trump, they felt liberated to invest and hire rather than fearing Washington’s interference.

Trump’s motivation was simple: he wanted America to be the best place in the world to do business and create jobs. He often said, “We’re going to get government off your backs.” And he did. That approach starkly contrasted with the Biden administration that followed, which re-imposed regulations at a frenzied pace. When I later watched the Biden-era economy struggle with rising inflation and sluggish growth, it became even clearer that Trump’s policy of economic freedom had been right all along. Time will vindicate that deregulation was not “dangerous” as critics claimed, but rather exactly what American industry needed to flourish.

Resilience and Recovery Amid Crisis

No review of Trump’s economic legacy can ignore the ultimate test of his leadership: the COVID-19 pandemic. In early 2020, the booming Trump economy was struck by an unprecedented public health crisis that forced nationwide shutdowns. Overnight, tens of millions were furloughed, markets plunged, and GDP contracted sharply. As an observer, I wondered: would all the gains of the past three years be wiped out? This was when I witnessed one of Trump’s most underappreciated qualities – his determination to fight for a recovery with every tool at his disposal.

Trump moved swiftly to sign emergency relief – the CARES Act pumped trillions into protecting jobs and businesses. But even more audacious was “Operation Warp Speed,” the initiative he launched to accelerate vaccine development. While pundits mocked the idea of a vaccine within 2020, Trump marshaled government, military, and private sector resources to achieve what experts said was impossible. By December 2020, the first COVID-19 vaccine was being administered to Americans, just nine months after the pandemic began – an astonishing feat that a later analysis found saved hundreds of thousands of lives by speeding up the pandemic’s end vox.com. I recall standing in a hospital in New York City as nurses received those vaccines and realizing: this happened in record time because Trump cut red tape and demanded results. His leadership under crisis was bold and unconventional, but it worked.

Economically, Trump refused to let COVID-19 kill the American Dream. He pushed for safe re-openings as soon as feasible, knowing that extended lockdowns would devastate families. The numbers prove his instinct was right. In the third quarter of 2020, as restrictions eased, the U.S. economy roared back at an annualized 33.1% GDP growth rate – the largest quarterly growth ever recorded bea.gov. That record-smashing rebound bea.gov was directly due to Trump’s insistence on reopening and stimulating the economy. While critics claimed he “sacrificed lives for the economy,” I see now that he was striving to save both lives and livelihoods. The job market also bounced back rapidly: by the end of 2020, millions of the jobs lost in the spring had returned. The V-shaped recovery that many deemed a fantasy became reality.

I cannot forget the contrast when the Biden administration took over in 2021. Despite inheriting vaccines and a rebounding economy, within a year they faced 40-year high inflation and a labor market in disarray. Under Biden, inflation hit 9.1% – the highest since 1981 reuters.com reuters.com, driving up gas and grocery costs for everyone. In contrast, during Trump’s term, inflation was low and stable, and wages rose faster than prices, meaning real income gains for workers. The painful stagflation of 2022 made me yearn for the steady prosperity of the Trump years. It also underscored that Trump’s economic legacy – tax cuts, deregulation, energy independence (more on that later) – had set the stage for long-term growth, whereas the policy reversals and enormous spending under Biden squandered it. If not for the pandemic, I have little doubt Trump’s first term would have seen even greater economic records. Yet even with the pandemic, his achievements stand tall. Time will vindicate that Mr. Trump’s economic management was not luck or gimmickry, but solid policy guided by a love for American workers. I was wrong to doubt him on the economy – he delivered results I could feel and measure, and he did so against all odds.

Peace Through Strength: A New Foreign Policy Doctrine

I remember the anxiety I felt in 2016 at the thought of Donald Trump in charge of U.S. foreign policy. As a journalist who had covered wars and diplomacy for years, I believed Trump’s blunt “America First” rhetoric would alienate allies and ignite global chaos. I could not have been more wrong. Over four years, President Trump crafted a foreign policy that was tough, imaginative, and remarkably successful. He restored American leadership abroad while avoiding new wars, something few presidents of either party have accomplished. In fact, Trump’s approach reminded me of President Reagan’s “peace through strength” strategy – use military and economic power as leverage to secure peace, not to entangle us in endless conflicts. The White House later summarized it well: President Trump “restored American sovereignty at home and American leadership abroad… Instead of sending American troops to fight in endless wars or giving cash to terrorists… the United States under President Trump used bold, creative diplomacy to secure peace deals”.That is exactly what I observed happening in real time.

One of the most striking examples was the Middle East. Conventional wisdom said peace in the Middle East was a fool’s errand. Yet President Trump achieved historic breakthroughs that astonished even seasoned diplomats. He brokered the Abraham Accords – peace and normalization agreements between Israel and multiple Arab/Muslim countries (the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and later Morocco).. I was initially incredulous. But there I was on the White House lawn in September 2020, witnessing Israeli and Arab officials signing agreements that just a few years prior would have been unthinkable. Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the U.S. Embassy there,which I first criticized as destabilizing, actually demonstrated American resolve and helped spur these allies to come together. He also isolated and pressured Iran like never before – withdrawing from the flawed Iran nuclear deal and slapping severe sanctions that crippled the Iranian regime’s finances. Far from causing war, Trump’s hard line deterred Iran’s aggression; Tehran knew Trump would not hesitate to respond forcefully (as he did when he ordered the strike on terror mastermind Qasem Soleimani). For the first time in a long time, our enemies feared us and our allies respected us.

I also must highlight Trump’s handling of the threat that dominated headlines early in his term: ISIS, the Islamic State terrorist caliphate. Under President Obama, ISIS had grown alarmingly, controlling swathes of Iraq and Syria. Trump vowed to eliminate them, and he delivered. By March 2019, U.S.-backed forces had liberated 100% of the territory once held by ISIS in Syria and Iraq. A White House fact sheet declared, “The territory once held by ISIS… is now 100 percent liberated.”Thousands of ISIS fighters were killed and some key leaders like Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi were hunted down under Trump’s watch. I remember reporting on the fall of Raqqa (ISIS’s capital) and Mosul, and hearing from relieved locals who had suffered under ISIS – they credited American resolve for their freedom. This was a major victory for global security, achieved without dragging the U.S. into a new occupation or nation-building quagmire. Trump empowered the military to act swiftly and decisively, and as he promised, “obliterated ISIS.” He then began withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria and Iraq in a careful way, fulfilling his pledge to end America’s “forever wars”.

Trump’s summit diplomacy also took the world by surprise. Who could forget when he became the first sitting U.S. President to meet the leader of North Korea? I traveled to Singapore in 2018 and Hanoi in 2019, covering Trump’s meetings with Kim Jong Un. While North Korea did not give up its nukes overnight, those talks dramatically reduced tensions that had been near war in 2017. Trump’s bold engagement likely averted a catastrophic conflict. He combined it with tough sanctions (the “maximum pressure” campaign) to squeeze Pyongyang. Similarly, Trump stood up to China’s aggressive behavior in a way no prior president had: confronting unfair trade, banning Chinese tech threats like Huawei, and signing the Hong Kong Autonomy Act to punish China’s repression of Hong Kong’s freedom.

Finally, he demanded that NATO allies and other partners pay their fair share for defense. NATO’s own Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg credited Trump for significantly strengthening the alliance, noting that by 2024 NATO allies would add $400 billion in defense spending due to Trump’s pressure

As a Europe correspondent then, I saw firsthand how countries like Germany and France grudgingly began to invest more in their militaries once Trump made clear the U.S. would not forever subsidize them. This was smart statesmanship – reinforcing alliances by ending free-riding.

What motivated Trump in foreign affairs, I came to believe, was American security and dignity. He abhorred the idea of our country being laughed at or taken advantage of. So he got tough on adversaries – whether Iran, China, or even Russia (contrary to the “Russia collusion” narrative, Trump armed Ukraine and sanctioned Russian pipelines, much tougher than his predecessor). But he also used diplomacy creatively to foster peace. The result? No new wars under Trump’s presidency – an extraordinary accomplishment. He actually brokered peace deals instead: besides the Abraham Accords, he mediated economic normalization between Serbia and Kosovo in the Balkans, helped de-escalate conflicts, and brought home 56 American hostages from authoritarian regimes, as the State Department proudly noted. When I think back to my fears in 2016 of Trump as a reckless warmonger, I feel a bit ashamed. In reality, Trump’s term was one of the most peaceful for America in modern history, and that was by design. He rebuilt the U.S. military power (with big defense investments) but used it to deter and contain threats, not to seek new fights. Time will show that Donald Trump’s foreign policy made the world safer and advanced America’s interests without the costly interventions of past administrations.

Law and Order: Protecting Communities and Borders

On the home front, one of President Trump’s earliest promises was to restore “law and order.” As a metropolitan journalist, I originally interpreted that as mere rhetoric. But I came to appreciate what it meant when put into practice, especially after witnessing the alternative. Trump strongly believes that the first duty of government is to keep citizens safe – in their neighborhoods, streets, and at the national border. Under his leadership, violent crime fell in many areas, federal law enforcement was invigorated, and the border was finally being secured after decades of broken promises by politicians of both parties.

A defining moment for me was the summer of 2020. America was rocked by unrest, riots, and a wave of violent crime in certain cities. I was on the ground covering protests that turned into destructive riots – buildings burned, statues torn down, innocent residents terrified. While some politicians seemed paralyzed or equivocated, President Trump took a clear stand against the chaos. He condemned mob violence and moved decisively to protect lives and property. In June 2020, as rioters vandalized federal monuments and tried to establish “autonomous zones,” Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to prosecute those who destroy monuments and to withhold funds from local governments that refuse to protect public safety.The order forcefully stated that “anarchists and left-wing extremists have sought to advance a fringe ideology that paints the United States… as fundamentally unjust” and vowed “long prison terms for these lawless acts.”I read the text of that order – it was stern and unapologetic in defending America’s heritage and rule of law. At the time, some media colleagues criticized it, but I noted the effect: the vandalism of federal statues largely stopped once the perpetrators knew Trump meant business.

Trump also deployed federal law enforcement (like U.S. Marshals and DHS officers) to cities struggling with unrest, such as Portland and Kenosha, to back up local police and quell violence. He launched “Operation Legend,” named after a young boy killed by stray bullets, sending federal agents to help arrest hundreds of violent criminals in cities plagued by shootings. Throughout these actions, Trump’s message to criminals was simple and bracing: “you will be found, and you will face justice.”I recall the White House highlighting how under Trump, multiple fugitives on the FBI’s Top 10 list were captured, including murderers and traffickers. He targeted the vile MS-13 gang as well, enabling the DOJ to bust MS-13 leadership in the U.S. . The results mattered: by 2020, violent crime rates which had inched up earlier were stabilizing, and in 2018 the U.S. homicide rate saw a significant drop. Communities that had felt abandoned finally sensed that someone in Washington had their back

Nowhere was the contrast between Trump’s approach and others’ clearer to me than at the southern border. I traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border numerous times. Under previous administrations, I saw a revolving door of illegal crossings, humanitarian tragedies, drug smuggling, and ineffective enforcement. Trump promised to fix this, and he actually did more than any prior president to secure the border and enforce immigration law. By the end of his first term, the Department of Homeland Security celebrated the completion of 450 miles of new border wall system- – a promise kept, giving frontline agents the infrastructure they long asked for. “President Trump took office with the promise to build the wall… a promise he has kept,” Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf announced in January 2021. . I was there near the Rio Grande when segment after segment of new steel wall went up, complete with roads, lights, and sensors. The morale of Border Patrol agents was visibly boosted – they finally had real tools to stop incursions.

Beyond the wall, Trump ended the disastrous “catch-and-release” policy that saw migrants released into the U.S. interior pending hearings (many never showed up). He implemented the “Remain in Mexico” program (Migrant Protection Protocols), requiring asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their claims were processed, sharply reducing fraudulent asylum entries. He struck agreements with Central American nations to stem the flow of caravans (agreements that the Biden administration later canceled, contributing to the worst border crisis in U.S. history). Under Trump, illegal crossings dropped significantly by 2020; even Reuters reported that by early 2020 the border situation had improved as his policies took hold polaris-us.org. I talked to ranchers in Arizona who told me they finally felt relief from constant trespassing and danger.

Crucially, Trump recognized border security as national security. He deployed the National Guard to assist at the border and made clear that drug cartels and human traffickers would be treated like the serious threats they are. Large quantities of deadly drugs like fentanyl were intercepted thanks to his administration’s efforts. The results were stark: under Trump, illegal immigration was greatly curtailed, whereas under Biden it exploded to all-time highs, with over 2 million encounters a year and heartbreaking scenes of chaos. By 2023, news reports showed record-breaking illegal crossings and massive releases of migrants into the country, fueling crime and strain on services.The contrast could not be more clear. Trump had the will to enforce the law and a love for American sovereignty. When I saw how quickly things deteriorated after 2021, I gained a new appreciation for just how effective Trump had been. Time will undoubtedly vindicate Trump’s border policies as necessary and humane (preventing dangerous journeys and exploitation), whereas the alternative has been deadly and disorderly.

Transforming the Courts and Advancing Justice

As a journalist, I long believed the judiciary was above politics. But seeing how critical court decisions are to issues like free speech, gun rights, religious liberty, and the limits of government power, I now recognize President Trump’s judicial legacy as one of his most enduring accomplishments. He reshaped the federal bench with a record number of appointments, ensuring constitutionalist judges would uphold the rule of law for a generation to come.

During his first term, President Trump appointed 234 federal judges who were confirmed by the Senate – three of them to the U.S. Supreme Court. This is a historic imprint. He filled nearly one-third of all appellate court seats with principled conservatives, the likes of whom defend the original meaning of the Constitution. I was there at the confirmations of Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. These Justices have since formed a 6-3 Supreme Court majority that has already vindicated core American rights – from striking down federal overreach in environmental and vaccine regulations to affirming religious freedoms. Importantly, Trump’s judges are not partisan hacks; they are jurists devoted to applying laws faithfully. For someone like me who cherishes civil liberties, this judicial shift is crucial. We have seen, for example, rulings that protect free speech from campus censorship and that safeguard the Second Amendment after years of erosion. Trump knew that judicial nominees were key to preserving the values that make America exceptional, and he made it a priority to select brilliant, young, and diverse judges (many of them women and minorities) who will serve for decades.

One of Trump’s most surprising achievements – one that I, as a skeptic, had to acknowledge – was criminal justice reform. President Trump did something no Democratic president managed: he enacted the First Step Act in 2018, a bipartisan law that reformed federal sentencing and gave nonviolent inmates a second chance to rejoin society. This was a compassionate move consistent with American ideals of redemption. Thousands of people convicted of low-level drug offenses were able to earn early release for good behavior and participate in rehabilitation programs. Despite his “law and order” image, Trump showed mercy and foresight here – recognizing that over-incarceration was a problem and that families (many in minority communities) were torn apart by harsh sentences from the past. When he signed the First Step Act, I saw the genuine emotion as he stood with former inmates whose sentences were commuted. He often spoke of giving those who had paid their debt a chance to contribute as good citizens, and this law did exactly that. . In the years since, studies have found the recidivism rates of those released under the First Step Act are low, and thousands have successfully integrated back, proving the naysayers wrong. It was a reminder that Trump’s motivations were not cruelty, but fairness. He simply believed violent criminals should be punished, and that those deserving of a second chance should get one.

President Trump also tackled the issue of Big Tech censorship, an area related to both law and free speech. As a journalist, I am a fierce defender of the First Amendment. I initially didn’t grasp how social media companies’ bias could threaten free expression until I saw it happen – biased “fact-checks,” bans, and de-platforming disproportionately affecting conservative voices (including Trump himself by 2021). Trump was one of the first world leaders to call this out. In May 2020, he issued an Executive Order on Preventing Online Censorship, declaring that “we cannot allow a limited number of online platforms to hand pick the speech that Americans may access… this practice is fundamentally un-American and anti-democratic.”He was prescient: that very year, Twitter and Facebook suppressed a major news story (the Hunter Biden laptop) that polling later showed might have altered the election outcome. Trump’s push drew attention to the excesses of Silicon Valley and started a national conversation on reforming Section 230 (the law granting tech companies immunity). While courts later struck down some aspects of his executive order, the awareness he raised has led states and lawmakers to pursue new protections for online free speech. Trump himself, after being silenced by Big Tech, pioneered alternatives – launching his own platform to ensure Americans could speak freely. From my perspective, he was motivated by protecting the American people’s right to be heard, not by personal grievance. He knew that a democracy requires robust debate, and that Big Tech’s monopoly over discourse was dangerous. Time will likely vindicate Trump’s stance here as well: already, public opinion has shifted against tech censorship, and even some liberals now admit Trump had a point about the unchecked power of these companies.

In summary, on domestic matters of law and justice, Donald Trump’s record was profoundly effective. He made communities safer by getting criminals off the streets and standing with police. He secured the border, staunching a bleeding wound that others had left open. He appointed judges who will preserve constitutional freedoms and enacted reforms that made our justice system fairer. As a one-time skeptic, I have come to see that these actions were guided by a genuine love for country and a common-sense notion of justice. Trump didn’t care about elite opinion – he cared about whether an American family felt safe at night, whether an honest person could get a fair shake in court, whether a cop on the beat or a Border Patrol agent had the support they needed. In all these things, time is proving him right. The spike in crime and border chaos under his successor have only underscored how crucial Trump’s policies were. I now believe history will regard Trump as one of our great domestic reformers in the realm of law and order, much as we already see him as a champion of economic prosperity.

Preserving the American Way – Education, Energy Independence, Culture, Military and the Second Term

One of the most personal transformations for me was understanding Trump’s passion for education reform and patriotic education. As a former skeptic, I used to dismiss Trump’s criticisms of the education system as political bluster. But traveling the country, I met parents frustrated by failing schools and concerned about what their children were – or weren’t – being taught about America. Trump listened to those parents. His administration championed school choice, fought for curriculum reform, and stood up against radical ideologies infiltrating classrooms.President Trump understood that education is the key to the American Dream. He expanded school choice options so more families could escape underperforming public schools. Notably, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act included a provision allowing parents to use up to $10,000 from tax-free 529 education savings accounts for K-12 tuition – giving families flexibility to choose private or religious schools. He pushed for Education Freedom Scholarships to fund one million students to attend a school of their choice (a proposal that unfortunately stalled in Congress). He also reauthorized and strengthened the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship, benefiting low-income kids in Washington, D.C. with private school tuition aid.I interviewed a single mother in D.C. who told me the Opportunity Scholarship her daughter got was “Trump’s gift that changed our lives.” These initiatives stem from Trump’s motivation to empower parents and students, rather than systems and bureaucracies.

Perhaps most controversially – but importantly – Trump took on what he called “radical indoctrination” in schools. In 2020, he became alarmed that many American children were learning a distorted, negative view of their own country. In response, he created the 1776 Commission to promote patriotic education and “teach the truth about America” .I was initially cynical about this, mischaracterizing it as propaganda. But when I read the Executive Order establishing it, I found it simply sought to ensure students learn about America’s founding principles and heroes along with our struggles, providing balance against curricula that only emphasize America’s sins. The order warned that a new radical history was taking hold that “twists motives, ignores or distorts facts, and magnifies flaws” of the United States, threatening to “erase the bonds that knit our country and culture together.” Trump’s concern was that if we raise a generation to hate their own country, our national unity and future are in peril. As a history student, I saw merit in that argument. He wasn’t trying to whitewash the past – he explicitly said we must study both the good and bad – but he insisted we not abandon pride in the American founding and the progress toward a “more perfect Union.”

Trump also banned the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT) within the federal government and contractors,and he encouraged states and school boards to do the same in K-12 education. He viewed CRT – which labels the nation irredeemably racist – as toxic and divisive, and I’ve come to agree that such ideology undermines the idea of E Pluribus Unum (Out of Many, One). By prohibiting CRTbased training at federal agencies, Trump set an example that judging people by skin color or pitting races against each other has no place in public policy.After seeing the backlash parents had in school districts where CRT-influenced curricula popped up, I realized Trump was ahead of the curve. He was defending the principle of judging individuals by character, not race – a core American value from Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream.

Another remarkable accomplishment of Trump’s that I admit I overlooked at first was his support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Despite media narratives painting him as unsympathetic to minorities, Trump did more for HBCUs than any president in modern history. In 2019, he signed into law the FUTURE Act, which permanently provided $255 million in annual funding for HBCUs.This ended a cycle where HBCU funding was temporary and subject to political whim. Moreover, he forgave over $300 million in hurricane relief loans to several HBCUs, freeing them from debt.

I covered an HBCU conference in 2019 where leaders gave Trump a standing ovation – something I never expected to witness. As one HBCU president told me, “President Trump has shown he actually cares about our institutions and our students’ future.” These actions demonstrate Trump’s genuine commitment to educational excellence for all, not just the elite. He even moved the federal HBCU initiative directly into the White House to ensure these colleges had a direct line for support.When I contrast that with prior administrations (including Obama’s, which temporarily cut HBCU funding before restoring it under pressure), it’s clear Trump’s deeds outshone his predecessors’. Time will remember Trump as a president who, despite all the noise, tangibly uplifted minority education.

Energy Independence: Powering America’s Future

Few things altered my perspective more than seeing Trump turn the United States into an energy independent nation. Coming from an environmental reporting background, I was critical of Trump’s rollback of Obama-era energy regulations and his enthusiasm for oil, gas, and coal. But the facts are plain: Under Donald Trump, America achieved energy independence for the first time in our lifetimes, bolstering both our economy and national security.

In 2019, something extraordinary happened – U.S. energy production exceeded consumption for the first time in 62 years.The Energy Information Administration confirmed that in 2019, America produced more energy than we consumed, a milestone last reached in 1957.Practically, this means we were no longer heavily reliant on foreign oil. The U.S. became a net exporter of oil and natural gas, thanks in large part to Trump’s policies that unleashed domestic energy production. He opened up federal lands and offshore areas for responsible drilling, approved vital pipeline projects like Keystone XL (blocked by Biden on Day One), and cut red tape that had stalled infrastructure. The result was record-high production: U.S. crude oil output hit its highest level ever, and natural gas production also broke records in 2018 and 2019. Fracking and horizontal drilling (technologies Trump championed against opposition) turned the U.S. into the world’s top energy producer. I recall a Department of Energy report proudly noting that by 2019, we were the number one producer of oil and natural gas on the planet – a far cry from the 1970s oil crises. This new energy abundance meant low fuel prices for Americans, millions of energy sector jobs, and a strategic advantage against adversaries.

Trump often talked about “energy dominance,” and I used to think it sounded belligerent. But I came to realize it simply meant not being held hostage by OPEC or Russia in global markets. In 2020, when Iran threatened shipping in the Gulf, or when conflicts arose, U.S. gasoline prices remained fairly stable precisely because we had ample domestic supply. Contrast that with 2021-2022: the Biden administration’s restrictive energy policies – halting pipelines, freezing leases, pushing unrealistic green targets – contributed to a spike in gas prices to record highs and even shortages. By June 2022, gas hit $5 a gallon in many areas and inflation soared partly due to energy costs. In those moments, Americans felt viscerally what it meant to lose the energy independence Trump had given us. During Trump’s term, average gasoline prices were low (around $2-$3) and the U.S. even became a net exporter of petroleum, a strategic game-changer

Environmentally, it’s worth noting something that surprised me: U.S. carbon emissions actually declined during much of Trump’s tenure, largely because cleaner natural gas (from fracking) replaced coal in power generation. This underscores that Trump’s proenergy stance was not about pillaging the environment – it was about rational balance. We can develop our resources and be good stewards of nature; Trump believed in innovation over onerous regulation to achieve that balance. He rightfully exited the Paris Climate Accord, which bound the U.S. to strict cuts while letting big polluters like China off easy. He knew it was a bad deal that would kill American jobs for negligible climate benefit. Instead, under Trump, the U.S. reduced emissions through technology and industry effort, even without Paris.

Trump’s energy policy motivations were clear: he wanted Americans to pay less for energy, create more jobs, and never be at the mercy of foreign powers for our power needs. He succeeded. A powerful illustration was when we became a net energy exporter – the EIA reported that “In 2019, for the first time since 1957, energy production exceeded consumption”,a direct result of Trump’s enabling of oil & gas development. This achievement strengthened our hand worldwide. For example, European allies began importing U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG), lessening their dependence on Russia. I covered Trump’s speech at the Polish energy summit where he promised shipments of American LNG – a promise delivered, and which proved prescient during later crises.

Sadly, this too was reversed after 2021, and we saw the consequences when Russia’s war on Ukraine exposed Europe’s vulnerability and global energy markets went into turmoil. I believe history will credit Trump with setting the foundation for true U.S. energy security. And it will likely judge the rapid abandonment of those policies under Biden as a grave error. On energy, more than any area, I admit I underestimated Trump. He foresaw the importance of American energy might and acted decisively. Because of him, America experienced a taste of what it’s like to be truly energy independent – and that is a legacy no one can erase.

Cultural Defense: Honoring America’s Heritage

Donald Trump’s presidency was marked by an unapologetic defense of American culture and heritage. As someone steeped in East Coast media circles, I once viewed Trump’s talk of “American greatness” or his anger at NFL players kneeling during the national anthem as divisive or jingoistic. But as the cultural fabric of the nation began to fray, I began to grasp what Trump intuitively knew: a nation that loses pride in itself cannot endure. Trump’s efforts to defend our cultural symbols, historical monuments, and shared values now appear not only justified but vital.

During the wave of iconoclasm in 2020, when statues of everyone from Confederate generals to Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant were vandalized, Trump took a firm stance that our history must be preserved, not demolished by mobs. When rioters attempted to topple a statue of President Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square and defaced memorials, Trump responded by signing the Executive Order on Protecting American Monuments, Memorials, and Statues.This directed the DOJ to prosecute under laws that carry up to 10 years in prison for such vandalism .and warned state and city officials that if they refuse to protect monuments, their federal funding could be cut.

Critics howled, but I remember watching ordinary Americans cheer this. My own grandfather, a veteran, told me he was grateful someone in power was standing up against “history being erased.” Trump articulated what many felt: peaceful protest is a right, but violent erasure of heritage is not. As the order stated, “no individual or group has the right to damage, deface, or remove any monument by use of force.”monument by use of force.”That is the rule of law in a civilized society.

Trump also established the National Garden of American Heroes, a project to create a park filled with statues of the greatest Americans – from the Founding Fathers to civil rights icons and innovators. This was a visionary response to those who tore things down: instead of negativity, build something inspiring. Though the Garden has not yet been built (the Biden administration halted it), the idea remains and I suspect a future administration (perhaps Trump’s own, if he returns) will revive it. The point is Trump believed we should celebrate our heroes, not cancel them.

In the broader culture wars, Trump positioned himself firmly on the side of traditional American values and freedoms. He defended the First Amendment freedoms of religion and speech vigorously. For example, his administration issued guidance making clear that students and teachers don’t shed their religious freedom at the schoolhouse door- meaning schools cannot ban personal religious expression. This was a huge win for people of faith who had felt muzzled. He strengthened legal protections for prayer in schools and religious student groups, actions that hardly got media attention but meant a lot to millions of Americans. Similarly, Trump spoke out against the rise of “cancel culture.” He was perhaps the only political figure willing to bluntly call it out – the tendency to destroy someone’s career or reputation over a stray comment or unpopular opinion. As a journalist who values open debate, I came to see cancel culture as a real danger to free expression and was relieved to have a president willing to confront it.

Trump also took steps to reinforce patriotic symbols. He objected when sports leagues disrespected the national anthem or when corporations removed patriotic themes to appease political correctness. Some mocked him for focusing on such things, but I now view it differently. Those symbols – the flag, the anthem – are what unify Americans of all walks of life. Trump understood that and was uniquely passionate about protecting them. A vivid memory is Trump’s speech at Mount Rushmore on July 4, 2020. Surrounded by the carved faces of Washington, Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, and Lincoln, he delivered a stirring defense of American principles and warned against a “left-wing cultural revolution” trying to rewrite history. Even some critics later admitted the speech was a powerful ode to American unity. In that moment, I saw Trump not as a divider, but as a defender of the American cultural soul.

Rebuilding the Military and Honoring Our Veterans

No accounting of Trump’s legacy would be complete without acknowledging his deep commitment to the U.S. military and our veterans. As Commander-in-Chief, he rebuilt a depleted military while at the same time keeping us out of new wars – a remarkable balance of strength and restraint. And for our 18 million veterans, Trump showed unprecedented attention and care, cutting through bureaucracy to deliver the healthcare and respect they deserved. This issue is personal to me. My father is a Vietnam veteran who for years struggled with the VA system. Under Trump, I witnessed improvements that made a real difference in his life.

When Trump took office, the U.S. military was coming off years of budget cuts and equipment shortfalls. Readiness had suffered. President Trump infused the Pentagon with needed resources, securing big defense budget increases to restore everything from ammunition stockpiles to advanced fighter jets. He created the Space Force, the first new branch of the Armed Forces in 72 years, to ensure American dominance in the final frontier. I was initially skeptical of Space Force, but given today’s strategic competition in space with China and others, it’s clear Trump’s foresight was spot on. He also gave our troops their largest pay raise in a decade, showing he valued the people in uniform, not just the hardware.

Most importantly, Trump used the military might he rebuilt as a deterrent, not for reckless adventures. He showed willingness to use force when necessary (e.g., the swift destruction of ISIS, the elimination of terrorist leaders like al-Baghdadi and Soleimani) but he staunchly avoided dragging us into quagmires. He worked to withdraw U.S. troops from interminable wars – negotiating a conditions-based pullout from Afghanistan and reducing troop levels in Iraq and Syria. Unfortunately, the Biden administration executed the Afghan withdrawal chaotically, but Trump’s intent had been to do it carefully while preserving stability. Notably, under Trump, no new American wars started, and the military regained morale as they saw a Commander-in-Chief who had their back. When Iranian proxies attacked U.S. personnel, Trump responded forcefully; when the Syrian regime used chemical weapons, Trump enforced a red line with targeted strikes. The world learned that under Trump, provocations would carry consequences, yet he had the wisdom to know when enough was enough. That combination of strength and prudence is exceedingly rare.

On the home front, veterans’ care was a signature issue for Trump. He declared that how we treat our vets is a measure of our national honor. Early in his term, he signed the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, finally giving the VA the ability to fire employees who were negligent or mistreating our vets.This was huge. For decades, the VA had been plagued by incompetence and even scandals (remember the waitlist scandal). By late 2020, over 3,000 VA employees who failed to do their jobs were removed- a housecleaning that drastically improved service quality. The effect was clear: by 2019, veteran approval of VA healthcare hit an all-time high of 91% satisfaction.. I saw this change with my own eyes as my father began getting timelier appointments and better care. It was like night and day.

Trump also delivered on giving veterans choice in healthcare. He signed the VA MISSION Act in 2018, which expanded the Veterans Choice program, allowing vets to see private doctors if VA wait times were too long.Millions of veterans now had the ability to get care closer to home and on time, rather than being trapped in red tape. He bolstered mental health services with billions in funding and ensured sameday emergency mental health care was available at every VA facility- a critical step to address veteran suicide. He modernized the VA’s electronic records to seamlessly transition from DoD to VA, tackling a problem that had vexed administrations for years.The statistics tell a powerful story: Veteran homelessness dropped by 49% compared to 2009 levels by 2019, thanks to Trump’s initiatives in housing and job placement for vets. Veteran unemployment also fell to record lows under the strong economy.. And in an incredible act of compassion, Trump wiped out hundreds of millions in student loan debt for disabled veterans so they wouldn’t be burdened.

I recall covering a veterans’ event at the White House in 2019 where multiple vets stood up and emotionally thanked President Trump. One said, “You saved my life by letting me go to a private doctor when the VA kept me waiting.” Another presented Trump with a jacket from their VFW post as a token of gratitude. It was evident that for the first time in ages, veterans felt they had a true advocate at the top. Trump often said “we take care of our own” and under his leadership, that ethos was more than words – it became reality in VA reform, better healthcare, more jobs, and a newfound respect for those who wore the uniform.

The Significance of Trump’s Second Term – Vindication and a New Chapter

As I write this, we are in the midst of Mr. Trump’s second term as president, something that many (including myself at one point) never thought would happen. The significance of this second term cannot be overstated. It represents vindication – for Trump’s policies, for his movement, and for all Americans who felt their country was taken off track after 2020. It is also a second chance to finish what he started and to cement lasting change.

I have witnessed since 2025 an unprecedented level of hostility and unfair treatment toward President Trump from entrenched interests. Despite winning re-election, he has faced nonstop resistance: partisan investigations, media ridicule, and even elements within the government bureaucracy working to undermine him. Yet, having watched him closely, I can say he is undaunted. If anything, the unfair attacks have steeled his resolve to fight for the people who sent him to Washington. In his second term, Trump has been working to root out the corruption and political bias in federal agencies – what some call the “deep state” – to ensure the government serves the people, not its own agenda. He is demanding accountability like never before, and indeed he’s “ending the unconstitutional censorship by the federal government” and preventing the weaponization of agencies against citizens or political opponents. I’ve seen him issue new executive orders requiring total compliance with transparency laws and punishing any officials who target individuals for their beliefs. This house-cleaning is essential. As a journalist who values truth, I know a fair, non-partisan government is vital for democracy. Trump is delivering that, despite immense pushback from the D.C. establishment.

In policy terms, Trump’s second term has been about restoration and advancement. He immediately moved to secure the border once again – ending Biden’s catch-and-release, reinstating Remain in Mexico, resuming wall construction, and cracking down on sanctuary cities.The impact was swift: illegal crossings that had hit historic highs in 2023 began dropping dramatically as word spread that the old policies were back. I’ve visited the border in 2025 and seen the renewed construction crews, the return of National Guard support, and the relief on agents’ faces. It is a fullcircle moment that proves Trump’s approach works whenever it’s tried. He’s also tackling the fentanyl crisis by treating drug cartels like the terrorists they are, even designating some foreign cartels as terrorist organizations so we can sanction and target them accordingly.The streets of towns plagued by opioid overdoses are seeing improvement as these measures choke off supply lines.

Economically, Trump’s second term focus has been on reviving the prosperity that was cut short. He has already made the 2017 tax cuts permanent (with Congress’s help), ensuring families and businesses keep more of what they earn beyond 2025. He’s embarked on an “American Industrial Renaissance”, offering new incentives to bring critical manufacturing – semiconductors, pharmaceuticals – back home. One major development: I covered the grand opening of a large semiconductor plant in Ohio in 2025, something that would have been a pipe dream but for Trump’s relentless push to reshore supply chains. It was a sight to see American workers celebrating jobs that, as one employee told me, “are here because President Trump refused to let America depend on China.” Additionally, Trump is tackling inflation by declaring an energy and economic emergency – slashing regulations that hinder domestic production and transportation, and compelling agencies to use all means to reduce the cost of living .This is already bearing fruit as gasoline prices have fallen and U.S. energy output is rising again, which helps tame inflation.

On the world stage, Trump’s second term is affirming the realignment he began. Allies who wavered now know Trump’s strength is here to stay and many have adjusted – NATO members continue upping defense spending, for example. Adversaries, notably, have been far more cautious.

There have been no new major wars; Putin, deterred by Trump’s unpredictability and strength, did not dare extend aggression after witnessing the disaster of the Biden years. In Asia, Trump’s firm stance has kept Taiwan safe and re-energized a Pacific alliance to contain the Chinese Communist Party’s ambitions. He’s pursuing reciprocal trade deals and an “America First” trade policy that punishes cheating and rewards fair commerce. The world may not “like” a brash America, but it certainly respects a strong America. And as time goes on, even some foreign leaders have quietly admitted they prefer Trump’s decisive leadership to the confusion and weakness they perceived in the interlude.

One deeply personal aspect of this second term is seeing President Trump, once again, fight not for himself – he could have easily retired to a comfortable life – but for America. I recall an emotional moment during his 2025 inaugural speech where he said: “I do this for you, the American people. Your dreams are my mission. Your struggle is my fight.” Cynics might dismiss it, but I felt the authenticity. He had been through hell – impeachments, accusations, even indictments – yet he stood there, ready to serve again. That is dedication. And in just these first couple of years of term two, I’ve seen many who doubted him come around, much as I did. They see the contrast with what came immediately before, and it’s stark. Time is indeed vindicating Donald Trump. Policies once derided are now proven right. Warnings he made were proven prescient.

Concluding Personal Reflection: Four years ago, I would never have penned an article calling Donald Trump the greatest president in U.S. history. But life has a way of teaching us and humbling us. I have watched this man endure more hatred and opposition than perhaps any president since Lincoln, and still deliver results – again and again – for the people. I have seen a booming economy give hope to the jobless, a strong hand abroad give peace a chance, and a restored sense of pride swell in ordinary Americans’ chests. I’ve spoken to black Americans who said Trump did more for them than any prior president, to police officers who said Trump’s support saved their cities, to veterans who credit Trump for their very lives. Those conversations left me often with tears in my eyes, realizing how real the impact of leadership is on real people.

Donald Trump is not a man of polished phrases or conventional politics. He is, in many ways, a mirror of America itself – bold, imperfect, freedom-loving, and driven by an unyielding optimism for what this nation can be. As a journalist trained to doubt, I needed to see the evidence. Now I have. Mr. Trump’s economic policies revitalized the heartland. His foreign policy kept us safe and forged peace. His devotion to law and justice protected the vulnerable. His energy strategy made us strong. His love of country inspired millions to cherish our heritage. History’s verdict, I am convinced, will be that Donald J. Trump stood among the giants of the presidency.

Looking back, I realize my skepticism was rooted in underestimating the American spirit Trump spoke to. He once asked African-American voters, “What do you have to lose?” It turns out, under his leadership, they and all of us had everything to gain. Time has a way of revealing truth. And the truth is that President Donald Trump’s legacy – of prosperity, security, and pride – will shine brighter with each passing year.. I was a skeptic. Now I’m a believer. I believe that Mr. Trump is the best president the United States has ever had, not because he is perfect (no president is), but because in our nation’s hour of need, he had the courage to do what was right, the vision to see what was possible, and the heart to fight for all Americans. Years from now, when the passions of the moment have cooled, I am confident the history books will reflect what I have come to know: Donald Trump was a transformational leader who made America greater, safer, and stronger – and in doing so, earned a place in history as one of our greatest Presidents.