Donald Trump’s return to office has been nothing short of relentless, with a flurry of executive orders signed within just his first month. If one were to list all the actions he has taken since becoming the 47th President of the United States, it might be easier to note what hasn’t been done rather than keep up with what has. His aggressive policy moves have touched on everything from defining gender strictly as male or female to dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across federal agencies. His administration has also continued its hardline stance on undocumented migrants and even gone as far as renaming the Gulf of Mexico.
Despite his sweeping orders, not all of them have gone into effect without opposition. Some have already been temporarily blocked, thanks to a relatively obscure law allowing certain executive actions to be challenged. However, a federal judge recently ruled against a request to prevent Elon Musk—whom Trump appointed to lead the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—from accessing sensitive government data.
One of Trump’s most controversial moves came on February 18, when he signed an executive order placing various independent agencies—including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)—under direct White House control. This decision has sparked concerns about the extent of presidential power, as it could make Trump one of the most influential presidents in U.S. history.
With such drastic changes unfolding so quickly, lawmakers were asked to summarize Trump’s first month in office in a single word. Their responses reflected a broad spectrum of opinions, ranging from diplomatic to outright critical.
North Dakota’s junior senator, Kevin Cramer, opted for a neutral take, calling Trump’s return to the presidency “Active.” Meanwhile, Missouri’s Josh Hawley described it as “Bold,” while Utah’s John Curtis used the word “Aggressive.”
Iowa’s Chuck Grassley, the oldest sitting senator, summed it up with “Hurricane,” a term that suggests a force of nature sweeping through Washington—one that may not be entirely welcome.
On the more critical side, Vermont’s junior senator, Peter Welch, went beyond the one-word limit, calling Trump’s first month an “illegal rampage.” Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware was more succinct, simply describing it as “Terrible.”
With such a divisive start to his term, opinions on Trump’s presidency remain sharply polarized. Some see his rapid action as a necessary course correction, while others view it as an overreach of power. As his administration continues to push forward with sweeping changes, the question remains: how will history judge this storm of executive orders?