Opinion | TX3DNews.com
One hundred days into President Trump’s return to office, the headlines are loud — and depending on who you ask, we’re either in the middle of a political miracle or a slow-motion policy pile-up.
Here in TX-03, we don’t do cults of personality. We care about what policies actually mean for our small businesses, our schools, our military families, and our cost of living. So while Rep. Keith Self is busy echoing soundbites from Trump’s press office, we’re more interested in the facts on the ground.
Let’s strip away the spin and take a sober look at what’s gone right, what’s gone sideways, and what should have North Texans raising their eyebrows.
✅ The Good: Speed, Security, and Some Real Reform
1. Border enforcement is tougher — and fast.
Within weeks of taking office, Trump ramped up border enforcement and oversaw what DHS says is a 95% reduction in illegal crossings. That plays well in much of Texas, especially with voters who wanted stronger control without the chaos of 2022.
2. Social Security got an overdue cleanup.
The Social Security Fairness Act was a bipartisan win, delivering $14.8 billion in retroactive payments to 2.2 million Americans. Trump’s team also uncovered over $1 billion in waste, mostly from outdated systems and lax oversight.
3. He moved fast — maybe too fast.
In just 100 days, Trump signed 142 executive orders, more than any president in modern history. If nothing else, it proves he’s wasting no time.
But for every headline-worthy win, there’s a flip side — and some of it hits especially hard here in TX-03.
❌ The Bad: Tariffs, Turbulence, and Policy Chaos
1. Tariffs are burning local businesses.
Trump’s return to tariffs — now hitting 25% to 145% on Chinese imports — may sound like “America First,” but for small businesses in McKinney and Allen, it’s more like “survival mode.” Prices on basic goods like tools, electronics, and toys are climbing fast, thanks to the end of the de minimis exemption that once protected low-cost imports.
the de what???
The de minimis exemption used to let us import cheap stuff under $800 without paying tariffs — basically America’s free shipping cheat code, now revoked by the fun police.
Thanks to the tariffs — and despite Trump’s advice that little girls “only need two dolls” — the real question now is whether parents can even afford one.
2. Government freezes and lawsuits.
Trump’s team tried to freeze over $1.5 trillion in federal grants and loans — from education to disaster aid — but the courts shut it down fast. What they called a “waste audit” sparked chaos: halted payments, agency confusion, and even firings and rehirings as programs scrambled to stay afloat.
3. Foreign policy faceplants.
In March, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz accidentally added a journalist to a Signal chat discussing classified U.S. strikes in Yemen — exposing intel, identities, and top officials like JD Vance and Pete Hegseth. The fallout? Waltz was out, and allies were rattled.
4. Immigration Missteps.
In Trump’s first 100 days, the administration promised to deport “violent criminals,” but in reality, many of the people being rounded up have been longtime working immigrants — their only crime being undocumented status. One man legally protected from deportation was mistakenly sent to El Salvador, despite a court order. A U.S. citizen toddler was deported to Honduras. Stories like these spread fast across TX-03, leaving immigrant families — even legal residents — scared to open the door.
🗳️ What TX-03 Should Take Away
If you only watch national news, you’d think Trump is either saving America or setting it on fire. But here in TX-03, we don’t buy the hype — we live in the gray area. His first 100 days? A mix of wins and warning signs. And while Rep. Keith Self is busy retweeting talking points like it’s policy work, folks in TX-03 are more focused on what hits their bank accounts — not his next Fox News soundbite.
✔️ Social Security reform? Long overdue.
❌ Tariffs hammering small businesses? Unforgivable.
✔️ Border enforcement? Working.
❌ Confusion over aid, science cuts, immigration enforcement and lawsuits? Amateur hour.
We’re not here for slogans — we’re here for outcomes. Because when it’s our paychecks, our schools, and our future on the line, cheerleading just doesn’t cut it.