The Excerpt: A Forum on President Trump’s First 100 Days (Part 2)

Introduction

This is a bonus episode of The Excerpt podcast, released on May 5, 2025, focusing on American perspectives regarding President Trump’s performance during his first 100 days in office. The episode is a follow-up to a previous one that explored initial reactions to Trump’s leadership. Due to the overwhelming response to the first episode, the USA TODAY Opinion team, through its Forum series, decided to dedicate a second episode to further examining diverse viewpoints on Trump and his administration. The Forum series aims to showcase a wide range of opinions from across the political spectrum, particularly on issues where Americans hold deeply divided beliefs.

The podcast encourages listeners to participate in future discussions by submitting their thoughts on various topics through usatoday.com/forum. Selected submissions may be featured in print or on future bonus episodes. Listeners are also invited to provide feedback on the current episode by emailing [email protected].

The transcript provided is an edited version of an automatically generated transcript, and some discrepancies may exist between the audio and the text.

Michael McCarter’s Introduction

Michael McCarter, the leader of the opinion sections of Gannett, USA TODAY’s parent company, introduces the episode. He explains that the high volume of responses to the initial episode on President Trump’s first 100 days prompted this second installment. He frames the episode as a platform for listeners to share their feelings about Trump’s performance since taking office.

Eugene Dunn’s Perspective

Eugene Dunn, a 61-year-old resident of Medford, New York, expresses strong support for President Trump. He believes that America is significantly better off under Trump’s leadership. He specifically praises Trump’s immediate actions to close the border, contrasting them with what he perceives as Joe Biden’s permissive border policies. Dunn argues that this action alone justifies his positive assessment of Trump’s presidency.

Dunn highlights the issue of the federal debt, characterizing it as an existential threat requiring a national-level effort similar to the Manhattan Project. He suggests involving the entire country in generating ideas for both cost reduction and revenue enhancement. He is also staunchly supportive of Trump’s tariff policies, noting Trump’s decades-long focus on trade imbalances. Dunn views Trump as uniquely qualified to address these issues and expresses unwavering faith in his ability to succeed. He believes Trump deliberately waited until his second term to tackle the tariff war because he anticipated a challenging situation. Dunn sees the tariff war as a necessary step towards a "golden age" for the United States and even suggests it could elevate Trump to the ranks of Mount Rushmore presidents.

Lucy Hanson’s Perspective

Lucy Hanson, a 78-year-old from Midlothian, Virginia, holds a contrasting view. She did not vote for Trump and expresses concerns about his handling of deportations and the economy. Hanson fears that Trump is moving towards becoming a dictator, citing his actions regarding people of color and the elimination of DEI initiatives. She expresses strong disapproval of Trump’s perceived rush to remove non-native-born individuals from the country.

While Hanson agrees that foreign-born individuals who have committed crimes should be deported, she insists on due process for all, regardless of their criminal status. She finds the practice of deporting individuals to extremist prisons without due process to be cruel and inhumane. Hanson also voices concerns about the economy, noting the rising cost of groceries and the shrinking value of her savings. She describes her difficulties finding employment despite her willingness and desire to work, particularly after being laid off at the age of 78.

Rebecca King’s Perspective

Rebecca King, a 69-year-old from Eustace, Texas, voted for Donald Trump but does not believe the country is better off under his leadership. She criticizes Trump for failing to uphold promises made during his campaign, particularly regarding family values. She finds his deportation policies, including the separation of families and the deportation of children who are American citizens, to be inconsistent with his purported support for families.

King desires a responsible and measured leader, rather than a radical one. She believes that Trump’s rapid and drastic changes are creating chaos and confusion. She expresses concern about the economy and the potential for the United States to become an oligarchy, where the wealthy elite control the nation while ordinary citizens struggle. King is worried about the potential consequences of the Mar-A-Lago Accord and the impact of tariffs on American consumers. She urges Trump to slow down, adhere to court orders, and respect the Constitution. She expresses a desire for more people to recognize the negative consequences of Trump’s policies.

Gary Rog’s Perspective

Gary Rog, a 68-year-old from Hamburg, New York, did not vote for Trump. While he acknowledges some validity to concerns about government bloat and supports some immigration policies, he harbors anxieties about the balance of power and the economy. Rog criticizes the indiscriminate release of government employees without a proper plan or review. He believes that Trump’s tariff policies have harmed the American economy and damaged long-standing alliances. He also expresses concern that the stringent crackdown on immigration, while addressing legitimate issues of border security under the Biden administration, may be unconstitutional.

Rog emphasizes the importance of due process for all individuals, including American citizens facing deportation. He fears that the Trump administration is leading the country towards a constitutional crisis, particularly if it continues to disregard the judiciary and target American citizens without due process. He views the deportation of children who are U.S. citizens as a grave error and warns that Trump’s policies could have long-lasting negative consequences for the United States.

Conclusion

Michael McCarter concludes the episode by reiterating its collaborative nature with the Forum team at USA TODAY. He encourages listeners to submit their written opinions on national issues of interest, with the possibility of being featured in print or on future bonus episodes. He directs listeners to the show description for a link to the Forum and invites feedback on the episode via email. McCarter thanks listeners for tuning in and announces that Taylor Wilson will be back with another episode of The Excerpt the following morning.