The end of 2018 marks the closure of President Trump’s second year in office. Over the course of his presidency, Americans have witnessed various policy changes and other interesting events in the political world.
A Closer Look at President Trump’s Second Year in Office
The biggest victories of Trump’s second year as president include the following:
- Strides forward in the U.S.-North Korea relationship
- The renegotiation of NAFTA
- The First Step Act, a criminal justice reform bill
- Increased GOP Senate Majority
- Confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh
The advancements which have been made in the relationship between the United States and North Korea are remarkable. Earlier this year, President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un partook in a summit; the summit occurred after years of longstanding tension between America and North Korea. Although there is still more work to be done, the president has withdrawn from the Iranian nuclear agreement and remains optimistic about future talks and progress with the North Korean leader.
The renegotiation of the NAFTA comes after Trump’s heavy condemnation of the act, particularly during the 2016 election. During the second year of the president’s time in office, he has boosted protections for American workers and heightened mandates for goods which have to be created in the United States. However, this new deal requires approval from Congress in 2019 in order for it to stick.
Unlike the aforementioned victories of 2018, the First Step Act is a bill which largely garnered bipartisan support. This piece of legislation aims to lessen general amounts of incarceration and enforce federal penal system changes.
Of course, the increased Republican majority serves as another major win for President Trump this year. Throughout the runnings for the midterm elections, the president hit the campaign trails and stumped for various GOP candidates. Although Republicans failed to maintain their majority in the House of Representatives, the Senate is redder than ever.
Finally, comes the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh’s confirmation occurred after he faced a series of sexual assault allegations, shortly before Congress members were scheduled to cast their votes. After learning that one accuser made up parts of her story and due to a lack of evidence to substantiate claims against Kavanaugh, he was successfully confirmed.
Going Forward
All in all, President Trump has had a pretty good second year in his first presidential term. However, there is still more to be done going into 2019. One of the most critical reforms is the enforcement of border security. This means building a wall at the Southern border in order to halt illegal immigration. At this time, the president remains deadlocked in a game of hardball with Democrats who are deadset against providing the necessary funding for the wall.
What are your thoughts about President Trump’s second year in office? Let us know in the comments section below.
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