Tristan: How Trump’s second term is making history—promises made, promises kept

By George Tristan | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

It’s often said that elections have consequences; I submit this assertion expresses an undeniable truth that nearly all would attest to, regardless of one’s political persuasion. That said, how should the first six months of President Trump’s administration be objectively characterized? 

Many tout it has been an unprecedented success; while others decry it has been an abysmal failure. Wherever you may sit on this continuum of opinion, what cannot be argued is whether Trump’s accomplishments, since January 20, 2025, have lived up to his 2024 campaign promises.

The American electorate returned Trump back to Washington D.C., largely due to how he led over the course of his first term as the 45^th POTUS. Had Trump not lived up to the promises he made during the 2016 campaign, he may not have been ushered back into the White House a second time as the 47^th POTUS. And true to form, he is delivering once again on the promises he made to the American people during the 2024 campaign. 

Even with today’s cynical view of politics and politicians, there is a genuine appreciation and respect for leaders who keep to their word. Being viewed as a “man of your word,” is a trait that lends credibility and speaks to the level of integrity one possesses. 

Say what you will about Trump’s antics and persona; it would be disingenuous to say that Trump lacks in transparency, authenticity, or is not a man of his word.

The campaign to Make America Great Again, the indelible Trump doctrine; is primarily rooted in creating financial prosperity for the working-class. 

After 4 years of the failed Biden “Build Back Better” agenda that saw record inflation, Americans became weary of watching their purchasing power weakened by failed economic policies, driven by cultural ideological pursuits such as DEI, transgenderism, and climate hysteria; versus sound business acumen rooted in the tenets of capitalism.

Over the course of the 2024 campaign, Trump laid out in great detail what and how he was going to return greatness to America. 

Key campaign promises included: Lowering taxes, reducing regulatory burdens on business, unleashing energy resources, realigning tariff and trade relationships with our trading partners, and onshoring manufacturing that would create jobs and increase wages. 

While the economic indicators are still very preliminary, consumer confidence and Wall Street projections are trending favorably. 

The momentum of the MAGA agenda is bolstered by a Republican majority in both houses and a conservative SCOTUS bench. Legislatively, there exists very little Democrats can do to impede Trump from paving the way for what he touts as the dawn of the “Golden age of America.”

Many believe at the crux of Trump’s success – and against all odds – return to the Whitehouse, was his promise to secure both the southern and northern borders; as well as committing to the mass deportation of millions of illegal migrants. 

Last year, the majority of American voters rejected lax and irresponsible immigration policies and their corresponding unfavorable outcomes, such as sharp increases in fentanyl overdose death and human-trafficking, and the billions of tax-payer dollars spent in sanctuary cities and states on budget-busting entitlement programs supporting the mass infiltration of unvetted illegals.

Our own Denver, Colorado, is a clinical example of the consequences of mass immigration and sanctuary policies: https://www.commonsenseinstituteus.org/colorado/research/housing-and-our-community/the-ongoing-cost-of-denver-migrants.

On November 5, 2024, Americans said “enough is enough.”

As we observe how the mass deportation of illegal migrants is currently unfolding; whether the violent criminals and sexual predators, or the illegal migrants in violation of court-issued deportation orders; we are observing how the “Resistance” is strategically crafting and honing their bleeding-heart sentimental narrative of the fears illegals are experiencing, of family separations and the like. 

Conveniently, the progressive-left never speaks of the thousands of Americans who have been harmed in one way or another by the actions of illegal migrants. 

Many Americans will never forget Rachael Morin and 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, the two females who were raped and killed at the hands of illegal migrants in 2023 and 2024 respectively. 

Then there is the most recent example being that of a botched armed robbery,  coincidentally involving an off-duty CBP officer, in NYC’s Central Park by an illegal migrant allowed into our country in 2023. This violent criminal was arrested and released from custody on four occasions, thanks to New York’s soft on crime and sanctuary city status: https://apnews.com/article/customs-officer-shot-new-york-cbp-868512b1b7e5c81dd7730484b594276d?utm_source=copy&utm_medium=share.

A parallel narrative being used to distort public opinion is the demonization and obstruction of ICE and CBP. Immigration and Border Patrol officers are none other than First Responders merely carrying out their sworn duties, in accordance with U.S. immigration laws, to protect and serve the law-abiding citizens of our communities. 

In stark contrast, the dystopian priorities of the progressive-left are to fight for illegals like Kilmar Abrego-Garcia, a known member of MS-13, human-trafficker, and wife beater: https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/04/16/kilmar-abrego-garcia-ms-13-gang-member-history-violence.

Did Democrats not learn anything from the 2024 election?

Ironically, the impact of the Make America Great Again campaign is a phenomenon that is literally spreading across the entire globe. Many governments in South American and European countries are establishing similar economic and immigration policies that are geared towards a nationalistic form of governing, versus the globalist-minded policies that only weaken and bring harm to the welfare of the citizenry. 

And not to be forgotten is how Trump obliterated the Iranian nuclear capabilities, a promise made by other U.S. Presidents, but only kept by Trump; or the end to the 30 yearlong war, that his administration brokered between the Republic of Congo and Rwanda.

President Trump is miraculously Making the World Greater Again… Truly, we are living in historic times.

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.