In Focus delivers deeper coverage of the political, cultural, and ideological issues shaping America. Published daily by senior writers and experts, these in-depth pieces go beyond the headlines to give readers the full picture. You can find our full list of In Focus pieces here.
President Donald Trump has delivered on many of his campaign promises during his second term, including extending his tax cuts, brokering a peace deal in Gaza, and securing the border. Our regular In Focus editors and writers discuss which of his remaining promises they’d like to see fulfilled over the next few years.
Jim Antle, executive editor, Washington Examiner magazine:
The two biggest unfulfilled Trump 2024 campaign promises are ending inflation and the Ukraine war. While the former is probably more important for next year’s election results, the latter is an urgent humanitarian concern. And inflation, however stubborn, is currently in better shape than Ukraine.
Trump’s recent diplomatic breakthrough in Gaza offers some hope that the Russia-Ukraine impasse can be resolved, or at least successfully managed. The Gaza deal did not appear imminent until it was suddenly inevitable.
What will it take to get Vladimir Putin to meaningfully engage? Trump himself seems conflicted over whether carrots or sticks (Tomahawks, anyone?) would work better. But a willingness to try various things — and apply pressure to whichever side he deemed the bigger obstacle to his diplomatic goals — has worked before.
David Harsanyi, senior writer:
The only way Donald Trump can deliver on one of his biggest promises is to break another. Perhaps no issue damaged President Joe Biden more than inflation. Democrats, as is their wont, believed they could ignore economic reality if they promised voters free perks. Trump seems to be under the same impression.
Tariffs have not only raised prices on numerous goods — from food to furniture to cars — they’ve done nothing to mitigate the growing federal debt. Import taxes are bad enough. The president’s impulsive, constantly shifting tariff threats cause even more instability. Polls show growing trepidation about the economy. Nothing poses a bigger threat to Trump’s agenda than an economic downturn. There’s nothing dishonorable about alternating your path when policy isn’t working.
Madeline Fry Schultz, contributors editor:
I’d like to see a fulfillment of the president’s commitment to free speech. “We’re going to bust up the censorship regime and bring back free speech again,” Trump promised on the campaign trail. He unveiled an executive order to that extent on Inauguration Day.
But since then, his administration’s actions have been hostile to the First Amendment. Trump’s battle with network television, the Pentagon’s censorious press agreement, and his attorney general’s comment that there is no right to “hate speech” are just a few examples.
Rather than attempting to score points against the Left, Trump should embrace an impartial enforcement of our fundamental right to free speech. As he said in his executive order, “Government censorship of speech is intolerable in a free society.”
Tim Carney, senior political columnist:
Candidate Trump suggested he would sign “a significant expansion of the child tax credit that applies to American families.” JD Vance on the campaign trail offered a harder number of “$5,000 per child.”
Instead, the One Big Beautiful Bill increased the CTC only $200, to $2,200. The credit is still worth less, adjusted for inflation, than it was in 2019.
Next year, under budget reconciliation, Trump should sign a One Big Happy Family bill that raises the CTC to $4,000 for young children and $3,000 for older ones — indexed for inflation. And the OBBB’s $1,000 in “Trump Accounts” for newborns (which now go into a savings account) should be made available for parents to spend right away, closer to the Baby Bonus Trump also promised.
Peter Laffin, In Focus editor and deputy commentary editor:
“I’ll always support policies that respect the sanctity of life,” President Trump said last June.
It’s a noble sentiment, one that he’s reiterated throughout his political career. The problem — and it’s a big one — is that his policies do not respect the sanctity of life. In fact, they actively undermine it.
The administration has defended the mail-order abortion drug mifepristone in court, and the FDA recently approved a generic version of the pill despite an ongoing safety review. Mifepristone is responsible for roughly two-thirds of all abortions. The drug is regularly shipped from abortion friendly states to abortion ban states, making his “states’ rights” stance moot and effectively nullifying Dobbs.
The culture of death is thriving in post-Roe America. Trump’s policies are directly responsible. I urge him to reverse course and live up to his stated desire to protect the sanctity of life.
Tom Rogan, foreign policy writer and editor:
Ending the war in Ukraine in a manner that secures Ukraine’s democratic sovereignty while deterring a future Russian invasion. President Trump belatedly appears to have realized that President Putin is an unreliable negotiating partner. Trump should now force Putin to the concessionary negotiating table by tightening sanctions on Moscow, particularly on Russia’s central bank and Russia’s energy export partners. He should also provide Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine to be used against military or energy industry targets. While Ukraine may have to accept a deal that allows continued Russian occupation of some of its territory, Trump should ensure that Ukraine receives security guarantees backed by European peacekeeping forces and U.S. support for those peacekeepers in the event of a future Russian attack.
Jeremiah Poff, Restoring America editor:
Permanently reforming the legal immigration system. The president’s executive order jacking up the price corporations pay for H1-B visas is an excellent start, but this is a band-aid that can be easily reversed by the next administration. A permanent solution is needed. There are already bipartisan concerns about the way the legal immigration system is abused both by immigrants and those who sponsor their visas, so a permanent legislative fix does not feel far-fetched. Perhaps a comprehensive overhaul of every visa category would be unattainably difficult, but legislation that is narrowly tailored to specific concerns, such as permanently reforming H1-B or banning birth tourism, could potentially be achieved and would give Trump another major legislative win to add to his legacy.
Conn Carroll, commentary editor:
“Under my leadership, the Republican Party will always support the creation of strong, thriving, healthy American families,” Trump promised on social media in 2024. “We want to make it easier for mothers and fathers to have babies, not harder!”
More than any other possible policy area, helping young men and women get married and start a family would be Trump’s greatest legacy. Fertility has been falling steadily since 2008, and if Trump can turn that around, it would be a historic accomplishment.
The best way for Trump to accomplish this would be to build more homes. Kamala Harris said she could build 3 million. Trump should build 4 million. And he can do it by reducing regulation and opening up federal land for housing construction.
