PUBLISHED ON

January 24, 2025

The Greatest First Week in Presidential History

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We’re just a few days into President Trump’s second term and already we can say this is the best presidential term of the 21st century. It’s enough to make this political cynic giddy with excitement for what the next four years hold.

My political cynicism is deep and is based on long years of disappointment in our politicians and our political system. This cynicism began in force all the way back in 1996, when the Republican Party treated the presidential nomination like a retirement gift, handing it to the uninspiring and totally forgettable Bob Dole. His lack of enthusiasm for defending conservative principles helped shape my pessimistic political outlook.  

George W. Bush got me a little excited in 2000, but the eight years of his disastrous presidency (anyone remember his nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court?) only deepened my distrust of politicians. Other than Ron Paul and a handful of others, no politician has given me reason to change my pessimism, distrust, and cynicism; it has only been reinforced in the years since.

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It was this cynicism that led me to strongly oppose Donald Trump in 2016. Yes, I was a “never Trumper” (mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa). I didn’t fall into TDS after he was elected, but I fully expected him to be the worst GOP President of our lifetime, maybe ever. Since so many politicians had disappointed me, I couldn’t imagine this New York limousine liberal would do otherwise.

Obviously, Trump’s first term wasn’t anywhere near as bad as I expected, but if we are honest with ourselves it wasn’t great, either. Sure, in comparison to Obama’s three terms (if you include his shadow term from 2020-2024), it was admirable, and Trump’s Supreme Court picks were objectively excellent. But his presidency was a relatively standard GOP presidency; he didn’t really move the needle in our country much.

But now he’s back and things are much different now.

It’s clear that Trump learned from his first term, as well as from how he was treated by the government apparatus and its lackeys in media, the tech industry, academia, and other halls of power since he left office. The biggest flaw of Trump’s first term is that he didn’t recognize how deep the swamp was, as can be seen in his poor staffing picks throughout those four years. Even Trump himself—who almost never admits a weakness or mistake—confessed he wasn’t prepared to take on the DC Machine in 2016. 

However, it seems obvious that this term will be nothing like his first term. He’s got an edge to him. How could he not? This is a man who was literally shot at, who endured a years-long massive lawfare campaign against him, and who has been demonized like no one before him. How could this not affect his outlook? In retrospect, it’s a blessing Trump lost in 2020, since his defeat allowed him to see more clearly who his enemies were and how dead-set they were to destroy him. It seems obvious that this term will be nothing like his first term. [Trump’s] got an edge to him. How could he not?Tweet This

Trump realizes he’s got nothing to lose this time, so he might as well try to truly drain the swamp this time. We can see this difference even comparing his official portraits from his two terms.

Let’s just look at what Trump has already done in this manic first week:

  • Issued an executive order that made it the policy of the United States to “recognize two sexes, male and female.” If you haven’t read this order yet, you should—it is a masterclass in combatting the insane gender ideology we face today. What is particularly wonderful is that the order does not say the government proclaims two sexes, but instead that it recognizes two sexes.There’s a humility to the EO in realizing governments can’t define reality, but can only acknowledge it.
  • Pardoned all the J6 protesters. The whole January 6th event was weaponized from the beginning to be a means to keep Trump from the White House in 2025 (as well as an attempt to put him in jail for the rest of his life). It is only right and just for Trump to pardon those who were caught up in this unholy jihad against him.
  • Issued an executive order to create a friendly regulatory environment for bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, and, most importantly, to ban the possibility of a central bank digital currency (CBDC). Many Catholics might not realize how important bitcoin is to our future freedom (or how dangerous bitcoin’s evil twin CDBC is), but understand that this EO is good for Catholics and all people of good will.
  • Pardoned all the pro-life prisoners. This action makes me the most happy. I personally knew a couple of the people who have been in jail the past year for peacefully protesting abortion. Their incarceration was an injustice, and every pro-lifer should be deeply grateful to President Trump for this wonderful act.  

This list just scratches the surface of what Trump has accomplished in his first week; he also pardoned Ross Ulbricht, withdrew the US from the World Health Organization, took concrete steps to secure our border, and declassified the files surrounding the assassinations of JFK, RFK, and MLK. He’s clearly on a mission to right many wrongs and get our country back on track.

Many of us were rightly distressed when Trump softened his pro-life positions during his campaign. His support for IVF was misguided and dangerous. His wife Melania’s support for abortion is reason for concern, and it’s an open question how much Trump himself opposes abortion. Yet it’s simply a fact that Trump is, by his actions, the most pro-life president we’ve ever had. Previous “pro-life” presidents talked a good game during the campaign but did little or nothing to advance the pro-life cause, but Trump has done the opposite. His campaign statements were not good, but his acts in office have been magnificent so far. I hope this trend continues.

On my podcast a few weeks ago I predicted that Trump would disappoint us at times as president. I’m sure that’s still true. Trump is not perfect and he’ll make missteps. But this first week has been magnificent and should give us all reason for optimism. As the Greatest Week in Presidential History nears its end, let’s pray that the second Trump term can be a time where order is restored in our country and America is made great again.

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