2026 Politics Story

Scenes as President Donald Trump returned to the White House in 2025. On his first days in office he signed a slew of executive orders...

Scenes as President Donald Trump returned to the White House in 2025. On his first days in office he signed a slew of executive orders and began to make good on his campaign promises with sweeping changes. From immigration issues, changing the federal work force and ending wars around the globe, his administration made efforts to fundamentaly change the status quo. They also pushed to expand the powers of the presidency and he has spoke about running for a third term in 2028. A flag frames a banner with an image of President Donald Trump hanging at the U.S. Department of Labor on Monday September 01, 2025 in Washington, DC. This was the second large banner with President Trump’s image that hung on a federal building in 2025.

President Donald Trump arrives at Capital One Arena for a Presidential Parade on Monday January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Weather moved the inauguraton indoors.

President Donald Trump arrives at Capital One Arena for a Presidential Parade on Monday January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Weather moved the inauguraton indoors.

A tank drives past the Lincoln Memorial as other vehicles line up on the Arlington Memorial Bridge during the 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Army...

A tank drives past the Lincoln Memorial as other vehicles line up on the Arlington Memorial Bridge during the 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Army Grand Military Parade and Celebration on Saturday June 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump had long wanted a military parade with tanks through the streets of Washington, DC.

Capitol Police officers gather before the arrival of President Donald Trump on Tuesday May 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. The President from trying to get...

Capitol Police officers gather before the arrival of President Donald Trump on Tuesday May 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. The President from trying to get support for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Adrian Lupkiewich of Michigan and other members of BAMN protest for immigrant rights outside the Supreme Court of the United States on Thursday May 15,...

Adrian Lupkiewich of Michigan and other members of BAMN protest for immigrant rights outside the Supreme Court of the United States on Thursday May 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. The court heard arguments about lower courts ability to block President Donald Trump’s policy to end birthright citizenship.

Law enforcement walk with Leonardo Fabian Cando Juntamay as he was detained in the Bronx during ICE led operations to apprehend illegal immigrants on Tuesday...

Law enforcement walk with Leonardo Fabian Cando Juntamay as he was detained in the Bronx during ICE led operations to apprehend illegal immigrants on Tuesday January 28, 2025 in New York, NY. The administraton continued throughout the year to hire additional ICE agents to carryout mass deportations across the country.

Roberta Lockett cries while embracing cousin Michelle Johnson during a viewing for Roberta’s sister, Monique A. Lockett at Vaughn Greene Funeral Services on Thursday March...

Roberta Lockett cries while embracing cousin Michelle Johnson during a viewing for Roberta’s sister, Monique A. Lockett at Vaughn Greene Funeral Services on Thursday March 13, 2025 in Randallstown, MD. Lockett, a federal worker passed away from a heart attack while working in February. She had expressed experiencing stress from returning to the office five days a week and the looming government layoffs according to friends and family. Significant cuts were made to the federal workforce.

Members of Neturei Karta International Jews United Against Zionism protest near the White House as Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled to meet...

Members of Neturei Karta International Jews United Against Zionism protest near the White House as Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump on Tuesday February 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump’s administration was able to help broker a ceasefire in the conflict in Gaza.

President Donald Trump stops to speak to media members after he attended the House Republican Conference at the United States Capitol to on Tuesday May...

President Donald Trump stops to speak to media members after he attended the House Republican Conference at the United States Capitol to on Tuesday May 20, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Charlotte Conklin wipes a tear as she and others watch the Inauguration ceremony at the U.S. Capital at Capitol One Arena on Monday January 20,...

Charlotte Conklin wipes a tear as she and others watch the Inauguration ceremony at the U.S. Capital at Capitol One Arena on Monday January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Despite the weather, Trump supporters showed up to support President Trump for the beginning of his second term.

A worker sits in a chair for a moment as he and others work to remove the chairs that they had previousley setup after it...

A worker sits in a chair for a moment as he and others work to remove the chairs that they had previousley setup after it was announced that the Inauguration would move indoors due to weather on Friday January 17, 2025 in Washington, DC. This is President Trump’s second term as President of the United States.

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 14: U.S. President Donald Trump, accompanied by (L-R) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Interior Secretary...

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 14: U.S. President Donald Trump, accompanied by (L-R) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, holds an executive order establishing the Energy Dominance Council led by Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum in the Oval Office at the White House on February 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump signed a second executive order withholding federal funding from schools and universities that impose a COVID-19 vaccine mandate. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 10: (R-L) White House staff secretary Will Scharf, Counselor to U.S. President Donald Trump Peter Navarro, and Deputy White House Chief...

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 10: (R-L) White House staff secretary Will Scharf, Counselor to U.S. President Donald Trump Peter Navarro, and Deputy White House Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller watch as U.S. President Donald Trump signs a series of executive orders including 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum, a pardon for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, an order relating to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and an order for the federal government to stop using paper straws and begin using plastic straws in the Oval Office at the White House on February 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump has signed more than 50 executive orders as of Friday, the most in a president's first 100 days in more than 40 years. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 14: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth arrives for his Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing on...

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 14: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth arrives for his Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on January 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. Hegseth, an Army veteran and the former host of “FOX & Friends Weekend” on FOX News will be the first of the incoming Trump administration’s nominees to face questions from Senators. Hegseth was joined by Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL) (L) and former Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) (R). (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 12: White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles looks on from behind a chart on prescription drug costs as U.S. President...

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 12: White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles looks on from behind a chart on prescription drug costs as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on May 12, 2025, in Washington, DC. During the event, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at reducing the cost of prescription drugs and pharmaceuticals by 30% to 80%. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 29: Trade advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump Peter Navarro (C) walks towards members of the media to speak following a...

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 29: Trade advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump Peter Navarro (C) walks towards members of the media to speak following a television interview on the North Lawn of the White House on May 29, 2025 in Washington, DC. Navarro spoke after a federal court blocked Trump's sweeping tariffs using an emergency powers law. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 08: U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi attends a Cabinet Meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at at the White House on...

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 08: U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi attends a Cabinet Meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at at the White House on July 08, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump discussed the recent flash flooding tragedy in Central Texas where at least 109 people have died, and other topics during the portion of the meeting that was open to members of the media. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

OXON HILL, MARYLAND - FEBRUARY 20: CEO of Tesla and SpaceX Elon Musk holds a chainsaw as he arrives on stage at the Conservative Political...

OXON HILL, MARYLAND - FEBRUARY 20: CEO of Tesla and SpaceX Elon Musk holds a chainsaw as he arrives on stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on February 20, 2025 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Argentinian President Javier Milei gifted Musk the chainsaw that he used as a prop while campaigning. The annual four-day gathering brings together conservative U.S. lawmakers, international leaders, media personalities and businessmen to discuss and champion conservative ideas. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 12: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt takes a question from a reporter during the daily press briefing at the White...

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 12: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt takes a question from a reporter during the daily press briefing at the White House on February 12, 2025 in Washington, DC. Leavitt spoke on the prisoner release from Russia, the war in Ukraine, inflation, and took questions on other topics. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 04: (EDITOR'S NOTE: Alternative Crop) Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. testifies before the Senate Finance Committee at the...

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 04: (EDITOR'S NOTE: Alternative Crop) Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. testifies before the Senate Finance Committee at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on September 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. The committee met to hear testimony on President Trump's 2026 health care agenda. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

TOPSHOT - US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth addresses senior military officers at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Virginia, on September 30, 2025. Pentagon...

TOPSHOT - US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth addresses senior military officers at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Virginia, on September 30, 2025. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Tuesday told a rare gathering of top brass called back from bases around the world that the US military will be reformed to end what he called "decades of decay." Speaking to hundreds of generals and admirals in Quantico, Virginia, Hegseth declared an end to "ideological garbage," giving concerns over climate change, bullying, "toxic" leaders, and promotions based on race or gender as examples. (Photo by Andrew Harnik / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW HARNIK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 25: (L-R) FBI Director Kash Patel, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, appear during...

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 25: (L-R) FBI Director Kash Patel, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, appear during a Senate Committee on Intelligence Hearing on March 25, 2025 in Washington, DC. The hearing to examine worldwide threats comes a day after Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic magazine was inadvertently included on a high level Trump administration Signal group chat on bombing plans in Yemen on Houthi targets. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 02: (Editor's Note: Alternative Crop) U.S. President Donald Trump departs after signing executive orders imposing tariffs on imported goods during a...

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 02: (Editor's Note: Alternative Crop) U.S. President Donald Trump departs after signing executive orders imposing tariffs on imported goods during a "Make America Wealthy Again" trade announcement event in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2, 2025 in Washington, DC. Touting the event as "Liberation Day", Trump announced sweeping new tariffs targeting goods imported to the U.S. on countries including China, Japan and India. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

US President Donald Trump arrives to deliver a speech marking his 100th day in office at Macomb County Community College Sports Expo Center in Warren,...

US President Donald Trump arrives to deliver a speech marking his 100th day in office at Macomb County Community College Sports Expo Center in Warren, Michigan, on April 29, 2025. Trump celebrated the first 100 days of what is already one of the most radical and far-reaching presidencies in US history, but polls show Americans becoming disenchanted with the economic and political tumult. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)

US President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the WHite House in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025. (Photo by Jim...

US President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the WHite House in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)

US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on the South Lawn before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on July...

US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on the South Lawn before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on July 25, 2025, in Washington, DC en route to Turnberry, Scotland. US President Donald Trump was due to arrive in Scotland on July 25 for a mix of diplomacy, business and leisure, with a huge security operation swinging into place and protests planned near his family-owned golf resorts. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)

US President Donald Trump (C) speaks, alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (R), during a cabinet meeting in...

US President Donald Trump (C) speaks, alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (R), during a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 9, 2025. Trump said Thursday he would try to go to Egypt for the signing of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk with his son X Æ A-Xii join US President Donald Trump as he signs executive orders in the Oval...

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk with his son X Æ A-Xii join US President Donald Trump as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, February 11, 2025.. Tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has been tapped by President Donald Trump to lead federal cost-cutting efforts, said the United States would go "bankrupt" without budget cuts. Musk leads the efforts under the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and was speaking at the White House with Trump, who has in recent weeks unleashed a flurry of orders aimed at slashing federal spending.

Placards, of what are described by the Trump administration as alleged illegal immigrant criminals, line the driveway at the White House in Washington, DC, on...

Placards, of what are described by the Trump administration as alleged illegal immigrant criminals, line the driveway at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 28, 2025.

US President Donald Trump's right hand is seen as he speaks to the press before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White...

US President Donald Trump's right hand is seen as he speaks to the press before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on July 15, 2025, in Washington, DC. Trump is travelling to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to speak at the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio whispers in the ear of U.S. President Donald Trump just before announcing a Gaza–Israel ceasefire on October 8, 2025. The...

Secretary of State Marco Rubio whispers in the ear of U.S. President Donald Trump just before announcing a Gaza–Israel ceasefire on October 8, 2025. The scene underscores a presidency keenly aware of symbolism and the high-stakes peace efforts serve not only foreign policy aims, but Trump’s long-standing desire for global recognition, including a Nobel Peace Prize.

US President Donald Trump (R) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) walk inside after Netanyahu arrived at Trumpís Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida,...

US President Donald Trump (R) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) walk inside after Netanyahu arrived at Trumpís Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on December 29, 2025. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)