As we creep towards the 100-day mark of Trump in office, you'd have to be blind to not see the contradictions and broken promises lining up behind the President. Obviously, his uninformed comments were going to bring some inconsistencies, but even some of Trump's most boisterous promises have fallen by the wayside. Here are just 7 of the most obvious broken promises from his first 85 days in office.
1. Obamacare
Campaign Promise: “Everybody in here, many of you know me, from day one I’ve been talking about we’re going to repeal and replace Obamacare from day one, we’re going to do it. If you remember, so important, from day one I’ve been saying, repeal and replace Obamacare.” (Milford, NH, 2/2/16)
After Election: Within two days of his election he softened his approach, saying he wanted to keep the "strongest assets".
2. Building the wall
Campaign Promise: "I will build a great wall -- and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me --and I'll build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words."
After Election: Mexico continues to maintain that they will (obviously) not pay for the wall, and even Trump admits that the US will have to fund the wall up front and "seek reimbursement" in some way. Although I can't think anyone, Democrat or Republican, will be happy about footing a bill of $21.5 billion.
3. Deportation of illegal immigrants
Campaign Promise: "Anyone who is in the United States illegally is subject to deportation." (saying that he will deport every one of the 11.3 illegal immigrants in the country).
After Election: He scaled the number back to some two to three million deportations of people who "are criminal and have criminal records, gang members, drug dealers". However, the Migration Policy Institute has one of the highest figures for illegal immigrants with criminal records, which it puts at only 890,000, including the people who's only criminal charge is crossing the border illegally.
4. Ditching NATO
Campaign Promise: “We don't really need NATO in its current form. NATO is obsolete… if we have to walk, we walk.”
After Election: Trump realized that his "obsolete" comment was not based in fact, and after meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg he is able to see the importance of the alliance.
5. Torture
Campaign Promise: “Don’t tell me it doesn’t work — torture works… Waterboarding is fine, but it’s not nearly tough enough, ok?”
After Election: After confirmed CIA Director Mike Pompeo said that he would "absolutely not" reinstate such methods, Trump flipped his opinion to the other side.
6. Locking up Hillary Clinton
Campaign Promise: “If I win I am going to instruct my attorney general to get a special prosecutor to look into your situation – there has never been so many lies and so much deception.”
After Election: Apparently, the "nasty woman" needed time after the election to "heal" so his criminal investigation idea was dropped from day 1.
7. Never taking time off
Campaign Promise: “I would not be a president who took vacations. I would not be a president that takes time off. … You don’t have time to take time off.”
On Obama: “Can you believe that, with all of the problems and difficulties facing the U.S., President Obama spent the day playing golf. Worse than Carter. We pay for Obama’s travel so he can fundraise millions so Democrats can run on lies, then we pay for his golf.”
After Election:Days spent at a golf course within the first 85 days of presidency:
Obama: 0
Bush: 0
Clinton: 3
Trump: 18
While this list just begins to scratch the surface, I'm hoping this helps to open your eyes to the four years of hell we have ahead of us. Good luck, folks.
