He has threatened to annex Greenland, attack Panama, and absorb Canada into the United States. He has shaken America’s traditional alliances with Europe and begun reshaping the global economic order. He’s vowed to negotiate a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, and to take over Gaza.
And that was just President Donald Trump’s first 100 days.
Main focus of the first 100 days
Mexico
“Drugs are still pouring into our Country from Mexico.”
Trump entered his second term ready for a fight with America’s southern neighbor, imposing tariffs and renaming the “Gulf of Mexico,” to the “Gulf of America.”
Feb. 19
- What he said
- “The president of Mexico, a very wonderful woman.”
- Trump said at a summit in Miami.
- What’s happened
- Despite the tensions, Trump has formed a rapport with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. In February, Sheinbaum deployed National Guard troops along the U.S.-Mexico border at Trump’s request. She also transferred 29 high-level drug suspects to the United States.
Feb. 27
- What he said
- “Drugs are still pouring into our Country from Mexico … Until it stops, or is seriously limited, the proposed TARIFFS scheduled to go into effect on MARCH FOURTH will, indeed, go into effect.”
- Trump on Truth Social, a social media platform.
- What’s happened
- Trump ultimately exempted many products compliant with the North American trade agreement from his tariffs. Sheinbaum hasn’t hesitated to fire back when she disagrees with Trump’s administration. But the leftist leader has favored negotiation over confrontation.
Canada
“Canada only works as a state.”
Trump’s acrimonious stance toward Canada has completely upended what was traditionally a close relationship.
March 13
- What he said
- “Canada only works as a state. We don’t need anything they have.”
- Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
- What’s happened
- Trump has imposed tariffs on Canadian goods to show that it can be controlled, said Emma Ashford, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center. Canada announced a plan to tighten the border with new equipment for authorities and the creation of a fentanyl “czar,” even as officials note that less than 1 percent of fentanyl seized at the northern border comes from Canada. By mid March, Trump had repeated several times that the U.S. would absorb Canada.
April 30
- What he said
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is “a very nice gentleman and he’s going to come to the White House very shortly.”
- Trump told reporters at a Cabinet meeting.
- What’s happened
- Trump’s threats to Canada’s economy and sovereignty led to a surge in Canadian nationalism, propelling the Liberals to a stunning comeback win in federal elections. Carney — who vowed to stand up to Trump — will stay on as the country’s prime minister. The two leaders are expected to meet soon.
Panama
“China is operating the Panama Canal and we didn’t give it to China.”
Trump has repeatedly criticized Chinese influence over the Panama Canal. Both U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have visited the country.
March 4
- What he said
- “My administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, and we’ve already started doing it.”
- Trump said during his first joint session of Congress.
- What’s happened
- CK Hutchison, a Hong Kong based conglomerate, announced on March 4 that it would sell its controlling stake in two Panama Canal ports to a consortium that includes the U.S. asset manager BlackRock — talks for the deal are underway.
El Salvador
“One hell of a president.”
Vowing large-scale deportations, Trump has found a key partner in Nayib Bukele, the 43-year-old president of El Salvador, who has significantly reduced gang violence through mass incarceration.
March 31
- What he said
- “Thank you President Bukele, of El Salvador, for taking the criminals that were so stupidly allowed … to enter our country, and giving them such a wonderful place to live!”
- Trump on X, a social media platform.
- What’s happened
- On March 15, invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, the U.S. sent about 260 immigrants — mostly Venezuelans — to El Salvador’s largest prison. Among them was Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego García, a Salvadoran, who the administration has admitted was mistakenly deported, but has refused to secure his return in defiance of court rulings. On Thursday, a Trump-appointed judge ruled that the administration had “[exceeded] the scope” of the Alien Enemies Act.
Ukraine and Russia
“He disrespected the United States of America”
Trump pledged to end Russia’s war on Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office. His administration’s efforts led to a limited ceasefire that has now ended.
Feb. 12
- What he said
- “I think President Putin wants peace, and President Zelensky wants peace. And I want peace.”
- Trump told reporters in the Oval Office
- What’s happened
- Trump held two calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin, breaking a years-long silence between the Oval Office and the Kremlin. His special envoy has also met several times with Putin but so far there has been no breakthrough with Russia as the war grinds on.
Feb. 28
- What he said
- “[Zelensky] disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office.”
- Trump on Truth Social
- What’s happened
- Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky clashed at the White House, had something of a rapprochement in a meeting between the two at the Vatican on April 26, followed by the signing of a deal to jointly develop Ukraine’s rare mineral reserves.
April 24
- What he said
- “Vladimir, STOP!”
- Trump on Truth Social
- What’s happened
- With talks showing little progress and a string of Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian cities with high civilian casualties, Trump said he would consider targeting Russian oil exports if he believed Putin was stalling on a peace agreement with Ukraine.
European Union
“The European Union was formed in order to screw the United States”
Trump has challenged the European Union in myriad ways: withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement, imposing sweeping tariffs on European countries and telling them to take care of their own security.
April 2
- What he said
- “They rip us off. … It’s so pathetic.”
- Trump said while announcing tariffs in the Rose Garden.
- What’s happened
- Trump has imposed levies on E.U. steel, aluminum and auto parts. The bloc responded by reintroducing tariffs on American bourbon, jeans and Harley-Davidson motorcycles. In April, Trump backtracked from 20 percent baseline tariff on the E.U., opening a window for negotiations.
Greenland
“We have to have Greenland”
Trump has remained adamant that the U.S. should control Greenland, citing its strategic position in the Arctic and its potential reserves of natural resources. People in Greenland, which is a self-governing part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Danes have reacted with anger and confusion, insisting the island is not for sale.
March 28
- What he said
- “We have to have Greenland. … It’s not a question of do you think we can do without it. We can’t.”
- Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
- What’s happened
- Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance visited Greenland, but were confined to a U.S. military base after local outcry. The White House has begun preparing a document of what it would cost to maintain Greenland as a territory.
Gaza
“Trump Gaza is finally here”
Trump vowed to bring peace to the Middle East before returning to the Oval Office and took credit for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. But he soon angered U.S. allies in the region by proposing a plan to depopulate Gaza and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
Feb. 25
- What was said
- “No more tunnels, no more fear. Trump Gaza is finally here.”
- Trump’s social media accounts.
- What’s happened
- An AI-generated video posted to Trump’s Truth Social account showed a gold-trimmed hotel labeled “Trump Gaza,” as well as Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sunbathing shirtless. But in reality, Israel has resumed airstrikes, halted aid, and designated roughly two-thirds of the enclave as either a military “red zone” or under evacuation orders.
Iran
“Iran has to get rid of the concept of a nuclear weapon”
During his last term, Trump withdrew from the landmark nuclear deal Iran struck with world powers, claiming it did not go far enough to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. Now, his administration is in direct talks with the Islamic republic to reach a new agreement, one that would ostensibly curb Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for widespread sanctions relief. At the same time, the Pentagon has sent more assets to the region and Trump has threatened Iran with military action if it doesn’t agree to a deal.
April 7
- What he said
- “We’re having direct talks with Iran.”
- Trump told reporters in the Oval Office
- What’s happened
- In March, Trump had sent Iran a letter, asking Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, its supreme leader, to disband its nuclear program. Tehran had said it would only engage in talks through a third party. But since then direct talks have begun between the two countries.
China
“We will not be held hostage by other Countries”
China is facing the highest U.S. tariffs compared to any other country, and Beijing has responded in kind. But there are signs the two countries could be inching toward negotiations.
April 13
- What he said
- “We will not be held hostage by other Countries, especially hostile trading Nations like China.”
- Trump said on Truth Social.
- What’s happened
- Trump first imposed a 10 percent tariff on all Chinese imports, citing concerns over China’s role in the fentanyl crisis. China responded by levying tariffs of up to 15 percent on U.S. products. The trade war intensified in the coming months and by April 2, the U.S. had raised tariffs on Chinese goods to an effective rate of 145 percent and China had countered with a 125 percent tariff on U.S. imports.
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Illustrations by Álvaro Valiño with photos from: Jabin Botsford, Ricky Carioti, Michael A. McCoy, AP, AFP, Getty, EPA-EFE and David Rumsey Map Collection.