US President Donald Trump

Donald Trump’s campaign promise to “Make America Great Again” has been pursued through many decisions, particularly in economics and diplomacy.

Surprising decisions

Two days after being sworn in, Trump signed an executive order officially withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade agreement signed by 12 countries in 2016. The move pushed other signatories to a stalemate because the TPP was in a ratification period in which at least 6 countries which contribute 85% of the bloc’s GDP must approve the final text of the deal by February, 2018.

In June, Trump declared the US would pull out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which had been agreed by 195 countries. Trump insisted that the Paris Agreement was unfair to the US, took away jobs, and harmed US’s taxpayers.

In October the US State Department announced that the US will withdraw from UNESCO on December 31, 2018, and will only maintain its observer role.  On December 2, the US decided to end its participation in the UN process to develop a Global Compact on Migration (GCM), citing as a reason that it is incompatible with US immigration and asylum regulations.

The US has made a number of changes in its foreign policy regarding Iran’s nuclear program, Syria’s civil war, relations with Cuba, and recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Efforts to reinforce its position as an economic power

President Trump has issued decrees on national security including an executive order to block the entry of citizens from several Muslim countries in the Middle East and Africa. He also is pushing a border wall with Mexico, massive tax cuts, and killing the American Healthcare Act called Obamacare.

Besides these controversial decisions, President Trump’s economic policies have seen positive results in 2017. The US recorded a 3% GDP growth, unemployment has dropped to its lowest rate in 17 years, the stock market is booming, and there is positive job growth.