However, the senior deduction directly benefits low- and middle-income recipients -- i.e., those who are likeliest to rely on Social Security to make ends meet. Trump's failure to reform Social Security has resulted in most seniors winning, thanks to this consolation prize.

Trump’s most dramatic economic policy shift has been toward trade protectionism. The president increased tariffs in 2025 to the highest in almost a century, even though the administration reversed some of its earlier hikes, notably on China.

Reuters, The Economist/YouGov and Gallup released monthly polls of Trump’s approval rating throughout 2025. A combined average of the polls finds Trump’s 2025 approval rating at 42%. Below is a chart featuring Trump’s monthly approval rating from Reuters, Gallup and The Economist/YouGov respectively. The chart can also be viewed here.

Trump’s job approval has slid over the course of 2025. While many polling averages early in his second term showed him above 50 percent, several major trackers now put him underwater, with a larger share of Americans disapproving than approving of his performance.

Trump's 2025 peace agenda produced mostly positive results with new ceasefires in Gaza and other regions, but major conflicts like Ukraine remain unresolved.

From January's honeymoon period to December's slight rebound, NJ Advance Media tracked Trump's approval rating throughout the year.

Morning Report is The Hill’s a.m. newsletter. Subscribe here. In today’s issue: ▪ Trump faces questions going into 2026 ▪ Venezuela tensions simmer ▪ Takeaways from 2025 elections ▪

President Donald Trump granted clemency to nearly 1,600 Jan. 6 defendants, cryptocurrency executive Changpeng Zhao, former Representative George Santos and others in 2025.

President Donald Trump made a lot of tariff threats and trade promises this year. Many materialized into a barrage of new import taxes that overturned decades of U.S. economic policy — but others have yet to be fulfilled as 2025 comes to a close.

President Trump’s administration oversaw US military strikes in seven countries across the world in 2025, pursuing a Ronald Reagan-inspired agenda of “peace through strength” with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at the helm.

HuffPost’s early December estimate was actually conservative compared to the website DidTrumpGoldToday.com. The site has tracked the president’s trips since he returned to office, and it has recorded him golfing 79 days — 22.6% of his time since returning to office — with a whopping cost to taxpayers of $110,600,000.

President Donald Trump says US government will give Americans $2,000 checks in 2026, now says Congress might not have to OK the spending. What we know