One year into President Donald Trump’s return to the White House and Republicans with the majority in Congress, the change is impossible to miss. America is standing taller again. After years of drift, weakness, and useless gestures, the country finally has leadership that knows what it’s doing — and doesn’t apologize for it. Confidence is back. Security is back. And for working Americans, opportunity is back.
When Trump took office in January 2025, he didn’t inherit a smooth ride. He inherited utter chaos. The border was wide open. Families were getting crushed by high prices. America was stuck in foreign conflicts with no clear goal and no end in sight, while writing blank checks for aid that did nothing but weaken our standing on the global stage. The people sent a strong message: they wanted strength, order, and common sense — not excuses. That’s exactly what this administration has delivered in its first year.
The turnaround starts with American strength, and nowhere is that clearer than in our military. Recruitment is surging across every branch. Young Americans are stepping up again because they believe their country has their back and Congress is ready and willing to give them the resources they need. When leaders respect the uniform, set clear missions, and stop apologizing for American power, people want to serve. And that’s backed up by fact. The Department of War released recruiting numbers for fiscal 2025, showing the best we’ve seen in over 15 years. That didn’t happen by chance; we’ve re-instilled pride, purpose, and readiness. America’s military is back to being a force people want to join, and enemies have to respect.
That strength carries over to the economy. Gas prices are down across the country. Energy and utility costs are easing. Rising prescription costs are being tackled. Families and small businesses are finally getting some breathing room. In Congress, we’ve been able to cut red tape and unleash American energy. Trump, working hand in hand with Republicans in both chambers, has lowered costs the right way — not with quick fixes, but with real policy. When fuel is cheaper, everything gets cheaper, and that matters to people who live paycheck to paycheck.
And we’re not just making living costs more affordable for Americans, we’re standing up for our workers, our tipped employees, and our seniors who worked their entire lives. By using tariffs the way they were always meant to be used — as leverage — we’re seeing a huge increase in revenue and bringing back American jobs. We’re giving Americans the ability to get back to work and put food on their table, all while solidifying Social Security for generations to come. Instead of letting foreign countries continue to rip us off, the administration forced fairer trade and brought in real revenue. That money strengthens the country without piling more debt onto the backs of taxpayers. It’s about economic independence and refusing to let America be taken advantage of anymore.
Then came the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed this summer — a direct win for all Americans. Republicans in Congress passed historic legislation that will bring relief and prosperity for Americans for generations. Permanent tax cuts. Tax cuts on tipped wages and overtime. And much-needed relief for seniors. We cut waste from a bloated bureaucracy and instead brought forth real reform that the people have been asking for over and over again. This legislation was written for people who work hard, play by the rules, and just want to keep more of what they earn.
The same tough, direct approach fixed what others said couldn’t be done: the border. We threw the woke BS aside, stopped apologizing for putting Americans first, and started locking down our southern border. We in Congress passed funding for our wall, more ICE officers, and the resources they need, and the results speak for themselves: Illegal crossings have dropped to levels we have not seen in decades. That didn’t happen because of slogans or useless task forces — it happened because the law was enforced again, with Republicans in Congress and the president standing side by side to get this done. Borders matter. Laws matter. And protecting American workers and communities matters. We’ve stopped the chaos and restored control, plain and simple.
But we aren’t just fixing our country here at home. We are reestablishing our dominance on a global stage. Overseas, Trump has rejected the failed idea that endless wars are what needs to happen to see change. Instead, he pushed for real results. This year alone, we’ve seen a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza ending years of nonstop fighting and laid out a serious path toward stability and reconstruction. It’s not naïve. It’s not weakness. It’s strength with a plan — the kind of leadership that refuses to accept perpetual bloodshed as inevitable, ending 8 wars in 8 months. We are replacing protracted wars with strong diplomacy and, if need be, clear, mission-driven, limited strikes.
When Venezuela’s corrupt regime continued flooding the region with drugs, eroding Latin America, and killing millions of Americans, the United States acted. Dictator Nicolas Maduro was removed and brought to face narco-terrorism charges. For too long, tyrants believed they could hide behind illegitimate leadership while destroying their countries and poisoning others. That illusion is gone. America made it clear: If you harm the U.S., our allies, or our interests, you will be held accountable.
As chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I worked shoulder to shoulder with the administration to take a long-overdue look at foreign aid, cutting waste and ending blank checks that do nothing but hurt America’s standing on the world stage. We rescinded billions in DEI, woke programs that weakened our soft power. No more transgender job fairs in Bangladesh, we tossed out programs spending millions to put on drag shows in Ecuador or to spread atheism in Nepal. Countries didn’t want these programs, and they did nothing to promote our interests. Now, American tax dollars are tied to American interests. Helping allies doesn’t mean funding failure, and generosity doesn’t mean stupidity. This is foreign policy grounded in realism and respect for the taxpayer.
HOW WILL WE TREAT THE CANCER OF ANTISEMITISM?
After one year, the verdict is clear. This administration leads with strength, not apologies. It puts America first without hesitation. It respects work, rewards responsibility, and understands that a strong country starts with secure borders, a strong military, respect from world leaders, and an economy that works for the people who keep it running.
There’s more work ahead — but America is no longer drifting. The country is moving forward with purpose again. And for millions of Americans, that strength feels long overdue.
