By Congressman Lance Gooden
When Americans evaluate a presidency, we ask a simple question: “Am I better off now than I was before?” This question reflects on our personal finances, job security, safety, and confidence in our nation’s future. Just 100 days into President Donald Trump’s second term, the answer is resounding: Yes, we are better off.
In November 2024, the American people delivered a clear directive for an America First agenda—secure the border, boost the economy, limit government, and become a nation that commands respect on the world stage once again. President Trump has made remarkable strides in delivering on these America First promises and undoing the damage of the last administration.
The Biden administration’s open-border policies fueled the worst illegal immigration crisis in our history. In just four years, eight million illegal immigrants and 50,000 pounds of deadly fentanyl poured across our border. The impact of this negligence devastated our communities and strained our resources. When Americans called on their leaders to act, President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas claimed they lacked the authority to secure the border without Congress. It took President Trump less than 100 days to expose this lie.
In 100 days, President Trump has slashed illegal immigration to historic lows through decisive action to shut down the border and enable Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents to enforce our laws. Here are the numbers:
- U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions at the Southwest border plummeted 94% in February 2025 compared to February 2024.
- Nationwide, daily apprehensions have averaged a record-low 330, the lowest in Customs and Border Protection history.
- Known “gotaways” dropped over 90%, restoring control to our agents and reducing national security risks.
As a result, these actions have made communities safer, strengthened national security, and eased the taxpayer burden of supporting millions of illegal immigrants. The American people demanded a secure border, and President Trump is delivering by restoring America’s sovereignty.
President Trump also promised a new Golden Age of American prosperity, and in 100 days, he sparked an economic renaissance. By making America the premier destination for business, Trump has secured over $3 trillion in private investment. Major corporations like Apple, TSMC, and Stargate (a joint venture between Oracle, OpenAI, and SoftBank) have announced investments of $100 billion or more each since January 2025. These commitments will create hundreds of thousands of quality jobs in technology, manufacturing, and infrastructure, reasserting America’s global economic dominance.
This is a stark contrast to Joe Biden who smothered businesses with regulations and disincentivized investment. His administration added a whopping $2 trillion in new rules that stifled innovation and cost businesses $3 trillion in compliance costs in 2022 alone.
Fortunately, President Trump took immediate action to reverse this trend, blocking Biden-era regulations and launching an aggressive deregulatory agenda. Within 100 days, Trump saved businesses and consumers over $180 billion in compliance costs, empowering companies to innovate and grow.
When evaluating the economy, we must also consider jobs. Joe Biden leaned heavily on the government and used taxpayer dollars to create jobs, but President Trump’s America First approach has driven private-sector growth and increased wages. In March, the economy added 228,000 jobs, with 209,000 in key industries like retail, transportation, warehousing, and construction. Wages tell the same story. Over the last year, hourly wages have risen by 4%, putting more money in workers’ pockets nationwide.
By cutting red tape, attracting historic investments, and prioritizing job creation, President Trump is building an economy that lifts all Americans.
Despite Trump’s undeniable successes, the mainstream media and Democrats have spent 100 days undermining him, peddling narratives of chaos and recklessness. When the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) began slashing waste, fraud, and abuse in federal spending, critics attacked DOGE and Tesla cars rather than criticizing the bureaucrats squandering tax dollars. When President Trump imposed targeted tariffs to end unfair trade deals and protect American industries, detractors cried “recession” and smeared him as a dictator. Their real grievance? They cannot tolerate his victories for America.
In 100 days, President Trump has secured our borders, unleashed economic prosperity, slashed wasteful regulations, and restored America’s global strength. Americans were not better off under Biden, nor would they have been under another Democratic administration. Under President Trump, families are seeing higher wages, businesses are thriving, and our nation is respected again.
This is only the beginning. President Trump is building a future where America leads, prospers, and stands tall. The American people demanded bold change, and he is delivering—one historic win at a time.
Welcome to the Golden Age.
Lance Gooden represents Texas’s 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
