100 days: Trump's American revolution

As Trump marks 100 days of his second presidency with a 40% approval rating, lower than that of any president in over 70 years, ITV News Correspondent Robert Moore reflects on a presidency that has reshaped the US government and the world.

This was another classic Donald Trump performance. The overnight rally in Michigan was a celebration of his presidency surrounded by his ultra-loyalists, with ill-disguised contempt for his critics and those seeking to thwart his agenda.

100 days into his second term, and Donald Trump was surrounded by signs proclaiming this to be America’s “Golden Age.”

With no regard for the global economic turmoil that his tariffs triggered, he told those at the Michigan rally that car factories would soon pour back into the American Midwest.

The president was entirely unapologetic for the deportation of suspected illegal migrants. He even played to the crowd the official video filmed by El Salvador’s government, showing alleged gang members arriving from the US.

Human rights activists – and some judges – have sharply questioned whether those being deported have been given due process. Trump attacked the judges who have questioned his executive orders as “communists.”

There is no question that this has been 100 days of turmoil and tumult. That is reflected in some of the polling, which shows Trump’s approval rating is hovering around 40%, historically low at this point in an American presidency.

Trump supporter celebrating 100 days at the Michigan Rally. / Credit: AP

But it is also striking that his grip on his party and his core supporters has never been stronger. 88% of Republican voters say they approve of Trump’s performance, pointing to his moves in closing the southern border.

Ever since noon on January 20, we have watched a wild experiment in presidential power. Donald Trump insists he is simply delivering on his campaign promises, pointing to his decisive November victory.

But his critics claim these first hundred days have pushed America inexorably towards a constitutional crisis.

There are 1,361 days to go of this presidency. And if Trump and his core advisers are to believed then the last 100 days are just the start of the new American revolution.