Everything Donald Trump Vowed to Do on Day One But Didn’t

During his campaign, President Donald Trump made a slew of ambitious promises about what he would accomplish on his first day in office.

From sweeping policy changes to major executive orders, Trump’s “Day 1” agenda was a key part of his appeal to voters. However, after he took office on Monday, many of those bold vows went unfulfilled.

Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment via email.

Why It Matters

Trump’s inability to meet many of his Day 1 campaign promises highlights the challenges of translating bold rhetoric into actionable policy, even for a leader known for defying political norms.

Republicans now face the difficult task of implementing Trump’s ambitious plan as concrete policy.

What To Know

Trump signed more than 100 executive orders on his inauguration day. Many of them followed through on promises he made during his campaign, such as withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accords and sending troops to the U.S.-Mexico border.

However, there were some promises that Trump did not keep.

End The War In Ukraine

Trump had claimed he would end the Russia-Ukraine war “within 24 hours” of taking office. Before the inauguration, Trump reportedly revised the timeline to several months, according to the Financial Times.

“The whole [Trump] team is obsessed with strength and looking strong, so they’re recalibrating the Ukraine approach,” a European official told the outlet.

Trump then suggested that “six months” was a more realistic target for ending the war. Meanwhile, Keith Kellogg, Trump’s appointed special envoy for Ukraine, told Fox News that the goal was to end the conflict within “100 days.”

In November, following Trump’s election victory, Senator Marco Rubio commented that resolving the war would require “very difficult choices” and that Russia and Ukraine would need to make “concessions” to reach a resolution.

“We do want to see that conflict end, and it’s going to require some very difficult choices,” Rubio said. “There is no way Russia takes all of Ukraine. The Ukrainians are too brave and fight too hard and the country is too big. That’s not going to happen.”

However, he also said: “There’s no way Ukraine is also going to push these people all the way back to where they were on the eve of the invasion.”

Shut Down The Border

Trump previously vowed to shut down the U.S.-Mexico border on Day 1.

“I want to close the border,” Trump said in December 2023.

He went even further on the topic at a campaign rally in July: “On Day One of the Trump presidency, I will restore the travel ban, suspend refugee admissions, stop the resettlement and keep the terrorists the hell out of our country.”

Trump issued a raft of executive orders on his first day in office designed to secure the border, but none of them went as far as closing it.

Instead, Trump’s executive orders declared a national emergency at the border, ended birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants born in the U.S., cracked down on “sanctuary cities” and states that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration agents, and ordered the Defense Department to provide troops and resources “to support the activities of the Secretary of Homeland Security in obtaining complete operational control” of the border. He also instructed the military to help build border barriers to repel migrants.

He stopped short of implementing the same travel ban that he implemented at the beginning of his first term that was dubbed the “Muslim ban.” However, he did sign an executive order on Monday that sets a 60-day window for top state, justice, intelligence and homeland security officials to identify countries whose vetting and screening processes are “so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals from those countries.”

U.S. civil rights groups are warning that the order lays the groundwork for reinstatement of the Muslim ban.

Unveil The Drone Intel

Earlier this month, Trump vowed to release a report on drone sightings in New Jersey that occurred last year.

“I’m going to give you a report on drones about one day into the administration,” he said to a room of Republican governors at his Mar-a-Lago estate. “Because I think it’s ridiculous that they’re not telling you about what’s going on with the drones.

“I hope it’s not an enemy, but we’re going to find out on the 21st, the day after,” Trump said. “You have to give me a little time for the inauguration, but shortly thereafter, we’ll give you a report on it. We’ll tell you exactly what it is. They know, and it’s very strange that they are not talking about it.”

The drones were spotted near Picatinny Arsenal and over Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, according to military officials and state lawmakers. The sightings prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to issue temporary flight restrictions over the properties.

Last month, Trump said “the government knows what is happening” when asked about the drones during a news conference.

The source of the drones remains unknown.

Impose Tariffs

Trump previously said he would impose additional tariffs on countries including China, Mexico and Canada, as well as a blanket tariff of 10-20 percent on all imports.

But his first day back in the White House was one without major action on his biggest economic initiative. However, he made clear that historic new duties are coming.

“We are thinking in terms of 25 percent on Mexico and Canada,” he said on Monday as he signed dozens of executive orders. “I think we are going to do it on February 1.”

He also suggested that blanket tariffs remain on the table but could be farther off, saying all countries rip off the United States to some extent.

He added: “If China didn’t approve [a TikTok divestiture deal], we could put tariffs on China.”

Be A Dictator

In one of the most startling remarks he made ahead of his presidency, Trump said he could be a “dictator” on his first day in office.

When asked by Fox News host Sean Hannity in December if he would seek retribution if he wins a second term.

“We love this guy,” Trump said of Hannity. “He says, ‘You’re not going to be a dictator, are you?’ I said: ‘No, no, no, other than day one. We’re closing the border, and we’re drilling, drilling, drilling. After that, I’m not a dictator.'”

While Trump did not close the border on Day 1, he did vow to “drill, baby, drill” during his inaugural address. He also signed a slew of executive orders in order to begin cementing his agenda, one of which reclassified thousands of federal employees as political hires, making them easier to fire if deemed insufficiently loyal to the new president and his aims.

What Happens Next

Many of Trump’s sweeping promises will require the support of Congress. Republicans have yet to find agreement on how to move his ambitious plans through Congress.