Honestly, the way people talk about the White House these days, you’d think it was a revolving door. But if you’re looking for a straight answer on who is the president of united states now, it’s Donald J. Trump.
He’s currently serving as the 47th President. If that sounds familiar, it's because he was also the 45th. He pulled off what basically everyone thought was impossible: losing the job and then winning it back four years later. The only other guy to ever do that was Grover Cleveland way back in the late 1800s.
It’s January 15, 2026, and we are officially one year into this second term.
The Current State of the 47th Presidency
Right now, the vibe in Washington is... intense. Trump didn't waste any time once he got back into the Oval Office. On January 20, 2025, he took the oath of office—interestingly enough, it was held inside the Capitol Rotunda because it was absolutely freezing outside—and immediately started signing executive orders like there was no tomorrow.
If you’ve been following the news lately, you’ve probably seen the headlines about the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." That’s the massive piece of legislation he signed that touches everything from taxes to border security. It's kinda his signature move for this term.
What's been happening in the last few weeks?
Just yesterday, January 14, 2026, the President was busy in the Oval Office signing the "Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act." He was there with RFK Jr. (who is now the Health and Human Services Secretary) and Ben Carson. It’s a move that’s been huge with dairy farmers, basically reversing the rules that kept full-fat milk out of schools.
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But it’s not just about milk. The administration is currently in the middle of a massive trade shift. We’re seeing a 25% tariff on advanced computing chips—think NVIDIA and AMD—to try and force more tech manufacturing back onto U.S. soil. It’s a high-stakes game, and it’s definitely making waves in Silicon Valley and across the globe.
How We Got Here: The 2024 Election
People often forget how weird the lead-up to this presidency actually was. You had a former president who was facing a mountain of legal issues, a conviction in New York, and a country that was pretty much split right down the middle.
The 2024 election against the Democrats ended with Trump securing enough of the Electoral College to return to power. He teamed up with JD Vance, the Senator from Ohio, who is now the 50th Vice President. Vance has been a pretty vocal second-in-command, often acting as the bridge to the younger "New Right" part of the party.
The Legal Context
You can't really talk about who is the president of united states now without mentioning the legal drama. It's a huge part of the story. Trump is the first person to hold the office while being a convicted felon. Most of the federal cases against him were dismissed shortly after the election or right around the time he took office, but the Georgia case wasn't officially tossed out until December 2025.
It’s a complicated legacy. Supporters see him as a fighter who survived "lawfare," while critics argue this presidency represents a major shift in how the American legal system interacts with political power.
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The Inner Circle: Who's Running Things?
The White House looks a lot different than it did during Trump’s first term. There aren't as many "establishment" Republicans this time around. Instead, you have a mix of loyalists and people who are famously skeptical of the traditional Washington bureaucracy.
- Susie Wiles: She’s the White House Chief of Staff. She’s widely credited with running the most disciplined campaign in Trump’s history, and now she’s the one keeping the trains running on time at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: As mentioned, he’s leading HHS. His focus has been on "Making America Healthy Again," which has involved a lot of scrutiny on food additives and the pharmaceutical industry.
- Karoline Leavitt: She’s the face you see at the podium as the White House Press Secretary.
Foreign Policy and the "America First" Reset
The world looks a bit different from the U.S. perspective in 2026. President Trump has been pulling the U.S. out of a lot of international agreements. Just this week, there was a major announcement about the U.S. withdrawing from the UN climate bodies (the UNFCCC and the IPCC).
On the flip side, there’s been a massive focus on energy. Earlier this month, the administration announced a huge energy deal involving Venezuela after the apprehension of Nicolas Maduro. The goal, according to the White House, is to flood the market with oil and drive down costs for American families.
Common Misconceptions Right Now
Even though he's been in office for a year, there's still a ton of confusion.
Is Joe Biden still involved? No. Joe Biden’s term ended on January 20, 2025. One of his final acts was issuing pardons for his family members, citing what he called "unrelenting attacks" from his political opponents. He’s transitioned into life as a former president.
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Can Trump run again in 2028? Actually, no. The 22nd Amendment of the Constitution says you can only be elected president twice. Since this is his second term, he’s legally barred from running for a third. That hasn't stopped people from speculating about what happens next, but as the law stands, this is the final lap.
What about the tariffs?
A lot of people think tariffs are just "taxes on other countries." In reality, they're taxes paid by U.S. importers. The idea is to make foreign goods more expensive so people buy American, but it’s a delicate balance. If you’re noticing your tech or groceries getting pricier (or cheaper), the administration’s trade policy is usually the reason why.
What to Watch For Next
If you're keeping tabs on the presidency, keep your eyes on the "One Big Beautiful Bill" implementation. It's the engine driving most of the domestic policy right now. Also, watch the relationship between Trump and the federal workforce. There have been massive layoffs and "Schedule F" reclassifications, which basically means the president has a lot more power to fire civil servants than before.
Actionable Steps for Staying Informed:
- Check the Federal Register: If you want to see exactly what the president is signing without the media spin, go to
federalregister.gov. It lists every Executive Order the moment it’s official. - Follow the Cabinet: The real work of the presidency happens in the departments. Watch what the Department of Energy and the USDA are doing—that's where the biggest shifts in your daily life (gas prices, food quality) are happening right now.
- Monitor the Courts: Even with a Republican-controlled Congress, the federal courts are still the primary place where the administration’s policies are being challenged.
That's the baseline. The situation in D.C. moves fast, but as of today, Donald Trump is firmly in the seat, and the "America First" agenda is in full swing for its second act.