Honestly, it feels like the news cycle never actually stopped spinning after 2024. If you’re waking up today, January 17, 2026, and asking yourself is Trump the new president of us, the answer is a very straightforward yes. He’s not just "new" in the sense of a fresh face—he’s currently serving his second, non-consecutive term as the 47th President of the United States.
He won.
It’s been almost a year since that freezing Inauguration Day on January 20, 2025. You might remember the headlines about the ceremony being moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda because the D.C. weather was just too brutal. Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath, and just like that, Donald J. Trump became the second person in American history, after Grover Cleveland, to lose the White House and then take it back four years later.
How We Got Here (The 2024 Recap)
The 2024 election was, well, a lot. Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, ended up securing 312 electoral votes. They flipped all seven of the major swing states—Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona, and even Nevada, which hadn't gone Republican in two decades. On the other side, Kamala Harris finished with 226 electoral votes.
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It wasn't just the Electoral College either. For the first time for a Republican since George W. Bush in 2004, Trump actually won the popular vote too, pulling in over 77 million votes. Whether you love the guy or can't stand the sight of the MAGA hats, that’s a massive mandate.
What is President Trump Doing Now?
Since taking office again, the administration hasn't exactly been quiet. We’re currently in the middle of some pretty intense shifts in both domestic and foreign policy.
- The Economy: Trump has been pushing what he calls the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." It’s basically a massive reconciliation package that touches everything from tax policy to border security.
- Trade Wars 2.0: Just this week, on January 14, 2026, he issued a presidential proclamation focused on "processed critical minerals." Basically, he’s using Section 232 to try and force new trade agreements with countries like Argentina, Australia, and Japan to cut out reliance on China.
- Foreign Policy: It’s been a busy month. He’s been working on a 20-point roadmap for peace in Gaza, which involves setting up a technocratic committee (the NCAG) to handle public services there. He even hopped on a call with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on January 7 to talk strategy.
The Legal Side of Things
You might be wondering about all those court cases that dominated the news for years. Most of them have faded into the background or been dismissed since he returned to the White House. The federal cases involving classified documents and the 2020 election interference were dropped shortly after he won in November 2024. The Georgia case? That was dismissed just last month, in December 2025.
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Basically, the "sitting president" status carries a lot of weight when it comes to legal immunity.
What to Expect for the Rest of 2026
If you’re trying to keep up with what’s next, keep your eyes on Davos. President Trump is scheduled to join the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2026 in Switzerland any day now. It’s a big deal because it sets the tone for how the U.S. will interact with the global economy for the next few years.
Here is a quick look at the current leadership structure:
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President: Donald J. Trump (Republican)
Vice President: JD Vance (The 50th VP)
Senate Control: Republican Majority
House Control: Republican Majority
Having a "trifecta"—control of the White House, the House, and the Senate—means the administration has a lot of leeway to pass the laws they want. We’ve already seen a government shutdown battle back in October and November of 2025, and there's another funding deadline coming up on January 30, 2026.
Actionable Insights for Following the News
If you want to stay informed without getting overwhelmed by the noise, here are a few things you can actually do:
- Check the White House Briefing Room: Instead of relying on social media snippets, go straight to the source at whitehouse.gov. They post the full text of executive orders and proclamations.
- Monitor Trade Bulletins: Since the administration is heavily focused on tariffs and "reciprocal trade," sites like the USTR (United States Trade Representative) are actually more relevant to your wallet than the standard political talk shows right now.
- Watch the G7 and WEF Coverage: The "Davos 2026" meetings will give a clear indication of whether the U.S. is going toward a more isolationist "America First" stance or if they’re finding a middle ground with the EU and G7 partners.
The reality is that is Trump the new president of us is a question with a very active, very busy answer. We are currently one year into a four-year term that is set to run until January 20, 2029.