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U.S. President Donald Trump celebrated the 100th day of his second term not with quiet reflection, but with a thunderous campaign-style rally in Michigan, where he triumphantly declared a "revolution of common sense." The former real estate mogul turned political firebrand used the event to defend his record, attack his rivals, and stir enthusiasm among his most loyal base.
Speaking to a crowd in the heart of the American auto industry, Trump boasted that car manufacturers were "lining up" to open new plants in the Midwest. He momentarily softened his signature trade policies, hinting at a pause on proposed tariffs on foreign auto imports—an unexpected pivot after warnings from U.S. car-makers about rising prices.
The president didn't shy away from controversy, taking swipes at Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, mocking poll numbers, and doubling down on false claims about the 2020 election. Though Gallup data shows Trump's approval rating at 44%, he dismissed such figures as "fake," even conducting a spontaneous straw poll among supporters to vote on nicknames for Biden.
Trump celebrated a dramatic drop in illegal border crossings, citing a plunge from 140,000 encounters last March to just over 7,000 today. He also touted nearly 66,000 deportations and aired footage of deportees en route to a mega-prison in El Salvador—moves that drew applause from the crowd but have triggered a wave of legal challenges.
Despite rising unemployment and consumer frustration over price volatility triggered by tariffs, Trump insisted he was steering the country in the right direction. His supporters appeared undeterred. "I'm just thrilled," said diner owner Teresa Breckinridge, praising his tenacity. "He's handling things wherever he can."
Yet the Democratic National Committee had a far different take, calling the first 100 days a "colossal failure" and warning of an impending "Trump recession." As the nation grapples with economic turbulence, Trump's brand of politics remains as polarizing—and potent—as ever.
