Washington, D.C. – As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take the oath of office for a second time, he portrays a nation in crisis, describing it as a “disaster” and a “laughing stock” on social media. However, by many traditional metrics, the America he inherits from President Joe Biden is in better shape than any newly elected president has seen since George W. Bush in 2001.
For the first time in 24 years, there will be no US troops at war overseas on Inauguration Day. Recent data shows significant improvements: murders are down, illegal immigration at the southern border has decreased, and the stock markets have had their best two years in a quarter-century. Jobs are up, wages are rising, and the economy is growing at a rate comparable to Trump’s previous term. Unemployment is low, domestic energy production is at an all-time high, and the manufacturing sector is thriving.
Despite these positive trends, the electorate remained dissatisfied, leading to Vice-President Kamala Harris’s defeat in the November election. The nation faces major challenges, including the threat of terrorism, ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and a ballooning national debt. Families continue to struggle with the cost of living, and Americans remain deeply divided politically, ideologically, economically, racially, and culturally.
While the economy is strong, many Americans do not perceive the country to be doing well, influenced by a fragmented media landscape and differing personal experiences. Only 19% of Americans were satisfied with the direction of the country in December 2024, and 52% felt worse off than four years ago.
Trump’s campaign capitalized on this sentiment, emphasizing the negative to defeat the incumbent president. As he retakes power, he will need to address these divisions and challenges to unite the nation.