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Donald Trump, as a candidate, made numerous pledges about his potential actions if elected President. However, President Trump has yet to fulfill many of these promises, and some may never come to fruition.
He vowed to quickly end the war in Ukraine, resolve the conflict in Gaza, cut federal spending by $2 trillion, eliminate the “Deep State,” end Social Security taxes, and provide free IVF.
These promises have not been kept, at least not yet.
While it’s often said that campaigning is idealistic and governing is practical, Trump’s disconnect from reality is particularly noticeable. His tax cut faces resistance in Congress due to a narrow Republican majority. Other campaign promises are stalled, showing the limits of his influence.
Trump’s list of unfulfilled guarantees is extensive. For example, he insisted that Russian aggression in Ukraine would cease immediately upon his election. He stated in Detroit last August that he would settle the war between Russia and Ukraine shortly after winning the presidency.
However, in a recent interview with TIME, Trump downplayed this prediction, saying it was partly a joke but also an indication that the war would end.
Currently, his stance has shifted, expressing frustration and surprise at Vladimir Putin’s reluctance to compromise. En route to Qatar, Trump mentioned attending peace talks this week, but Putin has not committed to attending, and Trump also hasn’t confirmed his participation in the proposed Moscow session.
While progress in Gaza is notable—the last living U.S. hostage was found after U.S. lobbying—the region remains unstable. Recent airstrikes resulted in casualties, and the UN warns that Israeli actions risk genocide. Israel is considering flattening and occupying Gaza if all hostages aren’t released by Trump’s return from his trip.
Despite pledges of a balanced budget on social media, achieving it is challenging. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), intended to cut federal spending, has fallen short of advisor Elon Musk’s promises. Millions in canceled federal contracts were reinstated, sometimes due to legal requirements. Further cuts are hindered by Trump’s agenda, which could increase the federal debt by $5 to $11 trillion over the next decade.
Many other Trump promises are stalled in courts, such as ending birthright citizenship, deporting more immigrants, and firing federal workers indiscriminately. Additionally, Trump has taken unexpected actions like cutting medical research funding, making tax evasion easier, and restricting public-housing vouchers.
Politicians often make unrealistic promises. In Trump’s case, it’s unclear if he recognizes the impracticality of his pledges or which ones the public truly desires. Evaluating his deliverables is difficult, as some voters opposed his vows of revenge on political enemies or pardoning Jan. 6 rioters, yet these count as fulfilled promises. He has also achieved goals like banning transgender service members and withdrawing from the Paris climate accord. Others, like releasing JFK assassination files, feel incomplete.
As Trump nears his four-month mark back in power, it’s important to assess his actual accomplishments and failures, moving beyond immediate reactions and online debates. Despite a fast-paced White House, some of his major pledges remain unfulfilled.
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