By Stephen Zogopoulos, USNN World News
From the moment Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President and then the 47th President of the United States, his administration launched an ambitious effort to undo the damage left by previous administrations. According to historian Victor Davis Hanson, Trump’s first six weeks in office represented a seismic shift from the stagnation of the Obama-Biden era and the embedded corruption that permeated Washington. His policies prioritized economic growth, border security, and the restoration of American sovereignty, laying the foundation for a broader campaign against radical agendas, political corruption, and bureaucratic fraud.
Restoring Economic Sovereignty: The Tariff Strategy
One of Trump’s earliest moves was implementing tariffs aimed at correcting the economic imbalances that had plagued American industries for decades. He recognized that prior administrations had allowed China and other nations to exploit free trade policies, leading to job losses and economic decline in key sectors like manufacturing and steel production. His tariffs on Chinese goods, along with renegotiations of trade agreements such as NAFTA (replaced by the USMCA), signaled a commitment to revitalizing American industry.
Victor Davis Hanson noted that Trump’s approach was rooted in pragmatism rather than ideology. Unlike his predecessors, he rejected the notion that globalization, at all costs, was beneficial for the American worker. Instead, he focused on creating fair trade deals that protected U.S. interests, strengthened domestic production, and incentivized companies to bring jobs back to American soil.
Bringing Normalcy Back to America
A key theme of Trump’s presidency was restoring normalcy—something that had eroded under the weight of radical social and political agendas. The previous administration’s policies had weakened law enforcement, promoted identity politics, and prioritized ideological experiments over practical governance. Trump’s first six weeks signaled a return to common sense, enforcing immigration laws, bolstering law enforcement, and reversing policies that placed America’s interests behind those of globalist elites.
Hanson highlighted how Trump’s unapologetic stance on border security directly challenged the left’s open-border policies. The construction of the border wall, the end of “catch and release,” and the strengthening of ICE enforcement were immediate actions taken to restore order. Trump understood that without secure borders, a nation cannot sustain its sovereignty or protect its citizens from crime, human trafficking, and drug smuggling.
Correcting the Problems of the Obama-Biden Years (and Obama’s Third Term)
Trump’s presidency was, in many ways, a direct repudiation of the Obama-Biden era’s failures. Hanson pointed out that many of the crises facing the nation—economic decline, political corruption, a weaponized justice system, and unchecked bureaucratic overreach—were products of policies implemented over the prior eight years. Moreover, with Biden in office, many argue that Obama’s influence continued into a de facto third term, exacerbating these issues rather than correcting them.
Trump worked quickly to dismantle burdensome regulations that strangled small businesses, reasserted American energy independence, and rejected the climate policies that prioritized global interests over American jobs. His tax cuts, deregulation, and pro-business policies led to economic growth, wage increases, and historically low unemployment rates, particularly for minority communities.
Fighting Against Radical Agendas, DEI, and Political Corruption
Victor Davis Hanson often praised Trump’s willingness to challenge the entrenched bureaucracy, which had become a tool for leftist ideological enforcement rather than an institution serving the American people. Trump took on political corruption head-on, exposing the deep state’s efforts to undermine his administration through false narratives and politicized investigations.
Trump also took a strong stance against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which had become a cornerstone of leftist policymaking in government agencies, corporations, and educational institutions. He viewed DEI as a divisive force that prioritized ideology over merit and competency, eroding the foundations of a unified and competitive America. By rolling back federal DEI mandates and eliminating race-based hiring quotas, he sought to restore a culture of meritocracy rather than one driven by social engineering.
From day one, Trump’s Justice Department sought to hold government agencies accountable for their abuses of power. He pushed for transparency in intelligence operations, called out media bias, and demanded accountability from those who sought to weaponize federal agencies against political opponents. His refusal to bow to political correctness made him a target of relentless opposition, yet he remained steadfast in his mission to drain the swamp.
The Department of Energy’s Role in Getting America Back on Track
While much attention has been given to Trump’s trade, economic, and immigration policies, one of the most critical aspects of his first six weeks was his administration’s focus on energy independence. The Department of Energy (DOE) played a vital role in his plan to restore America’s dominance in the global energy market.
Under Trump, the DOE rolled back excessive environmental regulations, fast-tracked oil and gas projects, and promoted American energy exports. His administration’s support for fracking, coal production, and nuclear energy positioned the U.S. as the world’s leading energy producer, reducing dependence on foreign oil and strengthening national security.
Hanson emphasized how energy independence was not just an economic victory but a geopolitical one. It gave America leverage over adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran while ensuring that domestic industries thrived without reliance on unstable global markets.
A Counter-Revolution, Not a Revolution
Trump’s first six weeks in office were nothing short of transformative. His administration moved with unprecedented speed to undo the failures of the past, fight radical leftist agendas, and restore economic and national security. Victor Davis Hanson has consistently argued that Trump’s presidency represented a long-overdue correction to decades of mismanagement, corruption, and ideological overreach.
While his opponents sought to obstruct him at every turn, Trump remained committed to putting America first—an approach that, despite controversy, yielded undeniable results. Whether it was through trade policy, law enforcement, energy independence, or government accountability, his early days in office set the stage for a presidency that challenged the status quo and reshaped American politics for years to come. As Hanson puts it, this was not a Trump revolution—it was a counter-revolution. It only looked like a revolution to the revolutionaries.
A special thank you to Victor Davis Hanson for his unique perspective and invaluable insights into the ongoing struggle to restore America.
Disclaimer: The following article is an opinion-based analysis written by Stephen Zogopoulos of USNN World News. The views expressed herein reflect the author’s perspective on historical and political developments and do not necessarily represent the views of USNN World News as a whole. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and form their own opinions.
