The 20 best things Trump did in 2025

The Washington Post ^ | 1/3/2026 6:30 a.m. EST | Marc A. Thiessen

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The accomplishments of a stunning year can’t be captured in just 10 items.

Summary

In a January 2026 Washington Post opinion column, conservative columnist Marc A. Thiessen praised President Donald Trump's first year in his second term as extraordinarily consequential, expanding his usual top-10 list to 20 achievements.

Key highlights include:

1. Took military action to halt Iran’s nuclear program (“Operation Midnight Hammer”).

2. Pressured NATO allies to meet and raise defense-spending commitments.

3. Expanded U.S. support for Ukraine, funded largely by European allies.

4. Achieved what the author calls a strong peacemaking record abroad.

5. Ordered strikes against Islamist militants targeting Christians in Nigeria.

6. Eliminated dozens of suspected Venezuelan drug-trafficking boats.

7. Improved U.S. military recruiting and readiness (per the column).

8. Shut down USAID as an independent agency, folding it into the State Department.

9. Began a major defense buildup, including funding a “Golden Dome” missile defense shield.

10. Pressured Panama to curb Chinese influence over the Panama Canal.

11. Cut taxes on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security benefits.

12. Sent the National Guard to Washington, D.C., to reduce crime.

13. Reversed Biden-era electric-vehicle policies and expanded oil and gas production.

14. Ended collective bargaining for about one million federal workers.

15. Opposed what the author calls “radical gender ideology” and restricted transgender participation in women’s sports.

16. Used federal pressure to reform or discipline elite universities.

17. Used tariff threats to negotiate new trade deals with multiple countries.

18. Reduced illegal border crossings to record lows using executive action.

19. Created “Trump Accounts,” tax-advantaged investment accounts for U.S. children.

20. Captured or killed a terrorist linked to the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan.

Thiessen described it as an "objectively stunning string of accomplishments," unmatched in his lifetime, contrasting it favorably against a hypothetical Harris presidency. The piece follows his prior column on Trump's "10 worst" actions in 2025.

[Rummyfan]

Because ten is not enough!

[maddog55]

Nice list but any related executive orders are irrelevant if not followed up by law which the GOP has done absolutely nothing on.

Taxes on tips, overtime pay and SS are not permanent either.

[KarlInOhio]

Thank you for the summary and proper numerical ordering. Countdowns should be legally restricted to NASA and David Letterman's service requests at his nursing home.

First thing I would swap 2 and 18. Border control is vastly more important than funding a relic of the Cold war.

[doc maverick]

Yes, good post!

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

# 1......Being inaugurated on January 20th and ending the hellish nightmare known as the Biden administration.

[Flavious_Maximus]

21) Firing thousands of worthless deadwood democrat federal employees.

Hopefully, the federal firings will continue into the millions. Let’s see if those rat cretins can find employment in the private sector. /spit

[Dave W]

The EOa will never be enacted into law as 60 votes are needed in the Senate. They will all be reversed by the next democrat or even, perhaps a republican in a more subtle way.

[OKITRUMP77]

Positive vibes: If Trump continues these enormous contributions and it’s plain as day, my feeling is if the sleepy and or sleazy Demos continue their destruction, it will be time for the majority to say, “You want to go back??? Time for the “Trump” card to be played...

[SunkenCiv]

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[aquila48]

21 - dismantled DEI in the government.

[Vaduz]

All the more reason the midterms need to be republicans if not things will get worse a lot worse with no return to normal for a long time if ever.

[Taxman]

ping