It’s been a wild ride since the 2024 election. Honestly, if you’re asking who is the president in 2025, you've probably seen the headlines about the historic shifts in Washington. As of right now, Donald J. Trump is the 47th President of the United States. He took the oath of office on January 20, 2025, marking one of the most significant political comebacks in the history of the country.
He didn't just win; he became only the second person ever to serve non-consecutive terms. The last time that happened was with Grover Cleveland back in the late 1800s. Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in November 2024 set the stage for a second term that has already moved at breakneck speed.
The Indoor Inauguration and a Cold Start
Usually, we see the president sworn in on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. Huge crowds, the National Mall stretching out—you know the drill. But January 20, 2025, was different. It was freezing. Like, dangerously cold.
Because of the extreme temperatures and high winds, the ceremony was moved inside to the Capitol Rotunda. Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath of office in that iconic, domed room. It felt a lot more intimate, maybe even a bit more intense, than the usual outdoor spectacle. JD Vance stood right there with him as he became the 50th Vice President.
The day wasn't just about the oath, though. Trump and Melania started the morning at St. John’s Episcopal Church, which is pretty much a tradition for incoming presidents. They even had tea at the White House with Joe and Jill Biden before the ceremony. It’s sort of a weird tradition when you think about how heated the election was, but that's the "peaceful transfer of power" for you.
A Record-Breaking First Year
Once he got into the Oval Office, things didn't exactly slow down. Trump hit the ground running with executive orders. By the end of 2025, he had signed 225 executive orders. To give you some perspective, that's more than any president has signed in a single year since Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Basically, his administration has been focused on a few massive pillars:
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- The Border: He appointed Tom Homan as "Border Czar" almost immediately.
- Tariffs: He introduced what he called "Liberation Day" tariffs. This actually caused some serious drama in the stock market early on, but the administration argued it was necessary for "economic independence."
- Healthcare Costs: One of the more surprising wins for the administration in late 2025 was a deal with 14 of the 17 largest pharmaceutical companies. They agreed to give Medicare recipients "Most Favored Nation" pricing, which basically means seniors pay the same for drugs as people in Europe.
- Rural Investment: Just recently, the President celebrated the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which funneled $50 billion into rural healthcare.
It hasn't all been smooth sailing, of course. A lot of these orders have been challenged in court, and the legal battles are still going strong. But the pace of change is something even his critics have to acknowledge is unprecedented.
The 2025 Cabinet: Who’s Running the Show?
The team Trump put together for this second term looks a bit different than the first time around. He leaned heavily into loyalists and people he felt could execute his "America First" agenda without the internal friction he saw in 2017.
Key Players in the Administration
Marco Rubio is the Secretary of State, leading the charge on a very hawkish foreign policy, especially regarding Iran and China. Speaking of Iran, the administration has already seen a major conflict there, providing support to Israel during the June 2025 Iran-Israel war and even carrying out strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
Then you’ve got Pam Bondi as Attorney General. She wasn't the first choice—Matt Gaetz was the original nominee but he withdrew after things got complicated during the confirmation process. Bondi has been tasked with what Trump calls "cleaning up" the Department of Justice.
The Cabinet also includes:
- Pete Hegseth at Defense
- Elise Stefanik as UN Ambassador
- Kristi Noem at Homeland Security
- Doug Burgum at Interior
The confirmation timelines were all over the place. Some, like State and Defense, were confirmed almost instantly. Others, like the Secretary of Health and Human Services, took nearly two months to get through the Senate.
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Why This Presidency is Different
Trump is now the oldest person to ever hold the office, taking over that title from Joe Biden. He’s also the first president to serve while having been convicted of a felony, stemming from the hush-money trial in New York back in 2024. However, his sentencing was essentially put on hold once he won the election.
His legal team argued that you can't really punish a sitting president without interfering with his ability to lead the country. So far, the courts have largely agreed to delay things. Special Counsel Jack Smith also dropped the federal election-related charges shortly after the victory, citing Department of Justice policy against prosecuting a sitting president.
It’s a unique situation. You have a president who is simultaneously managing a massive policy overhaul and a complex web of legal precedents that have never been tested before.
International Relations and the "Liberation Day" Tariffs
The world stage has been rocky. The tariffs I mentioned earlier weren't just a domestic talking point; they triggered retaliatory tariffs from the EU and China. In mid-2025, we saw a brief but scary stock market crash because of the uncertainty.
But Trump has doubled down, claiming these moves are the only way to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. He's also leaned into his relationship with Israel, moving even further than he did in his first term. The strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in 2025 were a massive escalation that had the whole world on edge for a few weeks.
Practical Takeaways for 2026
Since we are now into 2026, the effects of the 2025 policies are starting to hit the "real world." If you're looking at how this affects your wallet or your life, keep an eye on a few things.
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First, the Working Families Tax Cuts Act is going to start showing up in more than just rural healthcare. There are provisions for individual tax rates that might change your withholding this year.
Second, the drug price deals for Medicare are supposed to fully kick in throughout this year. If you or your parents are on Medicare, you should check with your providers to see if those "European prices" have actually hit the pharmacy counter yet.
Lastly, the tariff situation is still volatile. Prices on imported goods—everything from electronics to certain foods—might fluctuate as trade deals are renegotiated or as new retaliatory measures come from overseas.
If you want to stay on top of this, you should regularly check the Federal Register. That’s where every single executive order is officially published. It’s dense, but it’s the only way to see exactly what is being signed without the media filter. You can also follow the official White House Fact Sheets for the administration's side of the story on new laws like the Rural Health Transformation Program.
Keep an eye on the news out of the Supreme Court this year, too. With so many executive orders being challenged, the justices are going to have the final say on just how much power the president actually has in this second term.
Next Steps for You:
Check your recent tax filings or speak with a professional to see how the Working Families Tax Cuts Act affects your specific bracket for the 2026 tax year. You can also visit Medicare.gov to see if your specific prescription drugs have been added to the new price-controlled list established in late 2025.