Trump's Trophy Case

As we prepare for yet another grueling electoral season, all candidates will seek to highlight their political accomplishments in an effort to differentiate themselves from the pack. Frontrunners Joe Biden and Donald Trump have the distinct advantage of a referential term in the White House, several years on their resumes fulfilling the very job for which they now apply. While Donald Trump may be a few years removed from active service, his relevant political and diplomatic initiatives will be on proud display throughout his campaign. Here are just a few of Trump's Triumphs he is likely to emphasize on the election trail.

1. The Vaccine
Although he alleges pharmaceutical giant Pfizer delayed vaccine announcement in order to tip the scales in Biden's favor, what remains indisputable is that its development, testing, and rapid release occurred under Trump's command. He credits his willingness to cut traditional bureaucratic red tape in order to facilitate its quick availability, something he claims Biden would have been unable to accomplish. In September 2020, while clinical trials were concluding, the Food and Drug Administration suddenly instructed manufacturers to add several more weeks of testing. The result was an announcement that missed the general election by just days. A successful vaccine could have put Donald over the top for a second term, but most importantly, some experts speculate that the arbitrary lag resulted in up to 100,000 additional deaths. Trump will not only be able to showcase how his administration fostered the vaccine's development, but his likely suggestion of interference in its rollout will muddy the water for Democrats.

2. Tax Cuts
Particularly juxtaposed with Biden's handling of the economy, Trump will assuredly tout his attempts at tax reform while on the campaign trail. His 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is considered one of the boldest economic reforms in American History; it reduced rates for nearly all individual and corporate taxpayers and simplified the overly complex code. While the Biden Administration prioritized the addition of 87,000 IRS agents intent on investigating ordinary citizens, Trump instead sought to reform that very system for all Americans. With people looking to shore up uncertain economic futures, Trump's action will likely appeal more than Biden's rhetoric and broken promises.

3. Return to Manufacturing
While Candidate Biden famously quipped, "I'm not working for you," when confronted by a union worker at the Chrysler-Fiat plant, Donald Trump has been supportive of manufacturing's resurgence since he hit the trail. One of his core campaign promises in 2020 was to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. While previous Presidents, including Biden's predecessor Obama, have made the same assurance, Trump actually delivered on restructuring the 28-year-old agreement. Meant initially to ease trade relations between the United States and Canada, the deal was negotiated under Ronald Reagan and ultimately grew to include Mexico under Bill Clinton. Trump's edits eased the burden to manufacture domestically, penalized corporations that moved too much production abroad, and raised import tariffs on foreign goods. Particularly in the wake of the supply chain and inflation crises under President Biden, Americans are likely to pay attention when Trump discusses the efforts he made to bring factories, and their corresponding jobs, back home.

What do you feel is Donald Trump's most significant accomplishment while in office?

Hilary Gunn is a Connecticut native with a degree in Criminal Justice from the George Washington University. She works for a nonprofit and has previously collaborated with the CT GOP as an activist, political campaign manager and field director, and social media organizer. She is currently serving in her fourth term of municipal office and has previously acted as a delegate on the Republican Town Committee.