On Tuesday, President Donald Trump celebrated his first 100 days in office — for the second time — with a rally in Macomb County, Michigan, just north of Detroit. I arrived at the venue, an expo center for trade shows, around 4 p.m. ET, shortly before the doors closed. Trump was scheduled to speak at 6 p.m. Upon my arrival, the venue was about three-quarters full, a turnout that felt surprisingly sparse for such a significant milestone in Trump's presidency.
Outside the venue, a wave of protesters gathered, carrying signs and megaphones, along with pride flags and many inverted American flags, which symbolize distress. Vendors were stationed nearby, peddling MAGA merchandise, including hats and shirts. When I asked one vendor how he felt Trump performed during his first 100 days, he confidently replied, "We did good."
The atmosphere inside the venue was celebratory, with the crowd rallying around the downsizing of the federal government. However, the White House DOGE office was not the main focus among the 15 attendees I spoke with; instead, immigration emerged as the primary concern for more than half of them. One notable attendee was Blake Marnell, a 60-year-old from San Diego, who drew attention for his bright orange, brick-patterned suit. "This is my suit to support the border wall," Marnell explained, adding that it was one of Trump’s policies he has supported the most.
Marnell highlighted that US Customs and Border Protection reported a 95% decrease in illegal border crossings, with only 7,181 apprehensions in March compared to the previous year. This rally marked my first experience at a Trump event, and I quickly noticed a loose dress code — MAGA hats were a must, with many attendees donning red clothing and a full display of Americana, including flag-patterned dresses and denim embellished with rhinestones.
One woman, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed her belief that Trump performed exceptionally well in his first 100 days, particularly regarding border issues. She recounted how her parents immigrated from the Netherlands to Rochester, New York, through proper channels. Interestingly, some attendees appeared to be there simply for the spectacle. A 26-year-old woman named Nina, visiting from Montenegro for a wedding, mentioned she thought it would be a fun experience to see the American president.
About 30 minutes before Trump's scheduled speech, event organizers asked for volunteers to move to bleachers closer to the stage to create a fuller arena for the president's arrival. As the crowd eagerly awaited Trump, I conversed with a 31-year-old whose parents immigrated from Iraq. He shared that he once identified as a Democrat but was won over by Trump's marketing skills.
When Trump finally took the stage just after 6 p.m., he remarked, "This is the best 100-day start of any president in history. We've just gotten started." He proceeded to list his administration's achievements since his second term commenced, including efforts to end illegal immigration, protect American jobs, and restore the rule of law. Trump highlighted that he had signed a record 142 executive orders during this period, encompassing immigration sanctions and contracts with top law firms.
Trump claimed that his policies led to the reduction of nearly a quarter million federal jobs, while the office stated it saved $160 billion — approximately $994 per taxpayer. Although unemployment ticked up slightly from 4% to 4.2%, the US added 228,000 jobs in March, surpassing the monthly average of 158,000 over the previous year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In a surprising development, the consumer price index fell by 0.1% in March, marking its first decline since 2020.
However, experts warned that significant disruptions in product availability and pricing were expected due to Trump's tariffs, which have affected both small and large businesses. The S&P 500 has dropped 10% from its February highs, and economists are increasingly predicting a likely recession as companies reevaluate their plans in light of the tariffs. Many business owners reported that tariffs were squeezing profit margins and forcing them to raise prices, leading to layoffs across various sectors.
In his speech, Trump praised his administration for achieving what he called "the most secure border in American history." He acknowledged the efforts of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, referencing a controversial video depicting migrants being arrested, which elicited mixed reactions from the crowd. While many attendees were focused on immigration, the emotional impact of the video left some feeling disturbed.
Trump's speech spanned about an hour and a half, during which he maintained his characteristic style, taking jabs at the media and asking the audience if President Biden should be labeled as "sleepy" or "crooked." He also lauded Elon Musk, the DOGE initiative, and the dismissal of unnecessary bureaucrats. Despite the uproar surrounding his tariffs, responses from attendees varied, with some expressing a desire for clearer communication from Trump about his policies.
As the rally concluded, it was evident that Trump's supporters remain steadfast, even as they voiced some concerns about policy communication. "Time will tell," as they say, regarding the long-term impact of Trump's actions during his first 100 days in office.
