It is January 2026, and the honeymoon phase of the second Trump administration didn’t just end—it basically never happened. If you’ve been watching the news lately, you know the vibe is chaotic. Some call it "pure chaos," while others see it as the "disruption" they voted for. But honestly, trying to figure out how is trump doing so far depends entirely on whether you’re looking at your grocery receipt or the latest military headlines from South America.
One year in, the reality is a jagged mix of high-stakes military gambles, a massive immigration overhaul, and an economy that is making people very, very nervous.
The Venezuela Gamble and the "Trump Corollary"
The biggest shocker of 2026 so far was the January 3rd extraction of Nicolás Maduro. Operation Absolute Resolve saw U.S. Special Forces literally breach a compound in Caracas to haul the Venezuelan leader to New York. It was dramatic. It was violent. And it has set the global stage on fire.
Trump’s justification? He’s framing it around securing Venezuela's oil industry. It’s a return to a brand of American imperialism we haven't seen in decades. While his supporters cheer the "toughness," critics like those at the Cato Institute are calling the move "dangerously unrestrained."
There is also the Greenland situation. Yes, he is still talking about it. He recently called it "unacceptable" for Greenland to be in any hands but America's. It sounds like a joke until you realize he’s serious about the national security implications for NATO.
👉 See also: Why are US flags at half staff today and who actually makes that call?
The "One Big Beautiful Bill" and the Economy
Let’s talk money. This is where the numbers get hairy.
The "One Big Beautiful Bill" Act passed last year was supposed to be the magic wand for the economy. It hiked the debt ceiling by $5 trillion and poured money into border infrastructure. But for the average person? The "Oreo Test" is failing. People are still paying $5 for a bag of cookies, and the cooling of inflation hasn't actually lowered the prices at the register.
- Approval on the Economy: Only about 37% of Americans think he’s handling it well.
- The Wealth Gap: 65% of people believe his policies favor the wealthy over the middle class.
- The Stock Market: We saw a massive 35% correction in the S&P 500 last year.
A lot of the economic stress comes from the tariffs. Trump’s trade wars with China and threats against other nations have made imported goods more expensive. While he promised these would bring jobs back, the immediate effect has been a squeeze on the American household.
Mass Deportations and the ICE Surge
Immigration was the cornerstone of the 2024 campaign. Trump has leaned into it hard.
✨ Don't miss: Elecciones en Honduras 2025: ¿Quién va ganando realmente según los últimos datos?
The administration has fanned out FBI and IRS agents to help ICE with "at-large" arrests. This has led to a 600% increase in arrests within American communities. The scale is massive. They’re aiming for 108,000 detention beds, turning old prisons and even military bases into holding centers.
The human cost hit a boiling point on January 7, 2026. An ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, a U.S. citizen, in Minneapolis. The White House didn't back down. Trump called her "disorderly," while Vice President JD Vance claimed she was part of a "left-wing terror network." This kind of rhetoric is exactly why his approval ratings on immigration have slipped to about 38%, despite it being his "signature" issue.
Is He Following the Project 2025 Playbook?
Many people wondered how much of the "Project 2025" plan would actually happen. Turns out, a lot.
The Department of Education hasn't been "deleted" (he doesn't have the legal power), but it’s being hollowed out. Core functions have been moved to the Departments of Labor and Interior. He also officially withdrew the U.S. from the World Health Organization (WHO), with the membership set to end on January 22, 2026.
🔗 Read more: Trump Approval Rating State Map: Why the Red-Blue Divide is Moving
Why the Midterms Loom Large
Midterm elections are coming up later this year. Trump has even "joked" about canceling them because he’s doing such a "great job."
Nobody thinks he’ll actually cancel them. But the fact that he’s saying it tells you everything you need to know about his mindset. He’s worried about losing the Republican trifecta in Congress. If the House flips to the Democrats, the second half of his term becomes a war of impeachments and investigations.
Practical Insights for Navigating 2026
If you're trying to figure out how this affects your life, keep an eye on these three things:
- Watch the Tariffs: If you buy electronics or imported food, expect prices to stay high or rise further. The "reciprocal" trade policies are built into the 2026 budget.
- Travel Restrictions: New rules for the 2026 World Cup might require you to hand over social media data just to enter or exit the country.
- Interest Rates: With the debt ceiling rising and the Fed's independence being questioned, mortgage and loan rates are likely to remain volatile.
How is trump doing so far? He is moving faster than he did in 2017. He is more aggressive, less concerned with international law, and deeply focused on a "law and order" domestic agenda. Whether that's "good" or "bad" depends on if you value a disrupted status quo over stability.
Stay updated by following the 2026 budget hearings and the upcoming State of the Union on February 24th. These will be the definitive roadmap for the rest of the year.